Tura, Dec 12: Aggrieved applicants, who had applied for the various teaching posts that are currently being advertised by the state government to fill up vacant posts have written to the commissioner and secretary, education department seeking the upholding of the Supreme Court judgment on open distance learning (ODL) D.El.Ed courses in finalizing the process of recruitment.
Earlier on November this year, the SC had passed a judgment stating that ODL courses for D.El.Ed (18 month course) were not eligible for various government teaching jobs in the country. However the applicants stated that in the district of SWGH and others, many with ODL D.El.Ed courses were being allowed to participate in the recruitment process, despite the judgment. The SC had also passed a judgment stating that B.Ed was also not a valid degree for LP posts.
The applicants, most of whom were rejected due to the fact that they were B.Ed degree holders, felt the SC judgment needed to be followed in letter and spirit.
Earlier the SC had called an order by the Uttarakhand HC that recognized D.El.Ed degrees from ODL courses of 18 months as valid to seek jobs in the education sector as erroneous as the provision was only allowed for teachers who were already in service and needed the upgrade. It was a one time move that was discontinued in the year 2019 but the HC had upheld the 18, 24 month ODL D.El.Ed courses.
“When the SC judgment on B.Ed degrees being invalid for LP posts was made in the month of Sep this year, the education department was quick to take out a notification and put us on the reject list of applications. However, with the SC now giving its judgment on ODL D.El.Ed, no move has been made to take out a notification to disqualify these candidates,” said the letter to the commissioner and secretary.
The aggrieved applications added that in the Dadenggre subdivision and SWGH district, most that have now been provided jobs were ODL D.El.Ed degree holders and as such did not qualify for the posts as per the SC judgment. These, as per the SC, were no longer valid diplomas for teaching posts.
“Many have obtained these degrees from fake and unauthorized universities that are not recognized by the NCTE. Therefore their selection for these posts is not only illegal but goes against the SC order. For the sake of public interest, it is therefore pertinent to scrutinize these degrees and ensure that ODL diploma holders are rejected,” they felt.
The aggrieved aspirants have sought an in depth inquiry into the matter of appointed and selected candidates in the current recruitment drive for teachers in Garo Hills. The letter was submitted in Shillong last week.