Delay in transfer of teachers hits studies in AP government schools

Vijayawada: Government schools across the state are facing problems with the delay in teachers’ transfers. The academic year commenced last month and still studies have not started at majority of government schools due to delay in transfers and unavailability of some textbooks.

Teachers, who neglected classes in June with protests and processions opposing rationalisation of schools, performance points system and online counselling of transfers, were now busy selecting options for their transfers. The first unit examinations are fast approaching and majority of schools are still lagging behind.  

“Schools reopened on June 12, but no classes have properly started till date. Due to the huge publicity given by government, I got my two sons’ admission in government high schools. Private schools are running forward in completing syllabus of Class X,” said K. Satyanarayana Rao, a farmer from Unguturu mandal, Krishna district.

Teachers associations and educationalists are finding fault with the government in this issue.

“Statements and announcements of government were quite contradictory to the actual situation. The government, which made statements on strengthening government schools, has done nothing concrete. We requested the government to complete transfers before academic year begins to create better environment in schools. But it ignored our suggestions in the name of online transfers and performance points, which got serious criticism,” said former teacher MLC K.S. Lakshmana Rao.

Teachers’ unions accepted that students got disturbed with the overall transfers process and syllabus got delayed.

“We have clearly kept our demands before government and opposed performance points. It is the Education department that neglected the teacher transfers and intensified the situation. Transfers should be completed before the commencement of academic year, however, it was neglected here,” said Federation of Andhra Pradesh Teachers Organisation’s chairman P. Babu Reddy.

He said teachers would compensate the delay with extra classes after completion of transfers.

When contacted, a senior official at the School Education department said the department had taken measures to complete syllabus as per the schedule and would complete transfers in time.