Hyderabad: The sacking of approximately 6,000 part-time teachers including subject associates and senior faculty by the Telangana Social Welfare Gurukul Institutions Society (TSWREIS) earlier this week, in the middle of the academic year, has led to widespread disruption in schools, leaving students, particularly from underprivileged backgrounds, without essential academic guidance.
By a memo dated August 31, society secretary Dr V.S. Alagu Varshini directed principals of its gurukul schools to discontinue the services of non-regular staff, including part-time and honorarium-based teachers. The memo cited government orders to fill these vacancies with newly-recruited permanent staff.
The notice also directed the principals to report compliance and submit a list of vacancies to be filled on a contract or outsourcing basis. The society said that steps will be taken to fill the remaining positions.
Only 2,267 teaching staff have been recruited so far, leaving many positions vacant in schools that are already grappling with staff shortages.
Speaking about the decision, a dismissed teacher lamented, "We haven’t been paid for three months, and now we’re being removed without warning. How are we supposed to survive? More importantly, how will the students cope without teaching staff in the middle of the academic year?"
Teachers expressed their concern that this decision would derail the academic progress of students. "We worked hard to get our students into the best of the prestigious institutions and now, with us gone, who will prepare these children for competitive exams," asked a subject associate who was removed from a Gurukul school in Rangareddy district.
Teachers said that instead of terminating their services, the administration should have continued their employment to ensure a smooth academic year.
The Students' Federation of India (SFI) state committee voiced strong opposition to the move, labelling it an "autocratic decision." Teachers and students organisations have demanded the immediate reversal of the order, warning of large-scale protests across Telangana if the decision is not rescinded. SFI state president R.L. Murthy accused the society secretary of taking controversial decisions since taking charge.
The decision to retain part-time staff in tribal and minority welfare gurukul schools while dismissing them in the social welfare gurukul schools has sparked further outrage, especially among Dalit activists and educators. "It feels like Dalit students are being deliberately sidelined. By removing experienced and dedicated teachers, the government is denying these children the opportunity for a better future," said Nagi Ramamudi, a teacher.
Others pointed out the irony of recruitments being made even as seasoned part-time staff were being let go of. "How can the administration justify this move in the middle of an academic year," asked teacher C. Ravi.
The BRS demanded that the government immediately take back its decision. Former minister and senior BRS leader T. Harish Rao slammed the government, asking, “is this a gift from the Congress government to teachers on Teachers’ Day? This is a reprehensible decision. All those who are being removed have been asking for their salaries that have been pending for three months and this is the reason why they are being removed from service.”
