From Our Correspondent
TURA, Dec 12: Aggrieved candidates, who had applied for the various teaching posts that are currently being advertised by the state government, have written to the Commissioner and Secretary of the Education Department seeking the upholding of the Supreme Court judgment on open distance learning (ODL) D.El.Ed courses in finalising the process of recruitment.
On November 28, 2023, the SC had passed a judgment stating that candidates who have completed the ODL courses for D.El.Ed (18-month course) were not eligible for government teaching jobs in the country. The SC had also passed a judgment in September stating that B.Ed was not a valid degree for lower primary teaching posts.
The aggrieved applicants stated that in South West Garo Hills and other districts, many candidates with ODL D.El.Ed certificates were being allowed to participate in the recruitment process, in violation of the judgment.
The applicants, most of whom were rejected due to the fact that they were B.Ed degree holders, observed that the government should follow the SC judgment in letter and spirit.
“When the SC judgment on B.Ed degrees being invalid for LP posts was made in the month of September this year, the Education Department was quick to take out a notification and put us on the reject list. 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,” the letter said.
The aggrieved applicants added that in Dadenggre subdivision and elsewhere in South West Garo Hills, most candidates who have been provided jobs were ODL D.El.Ed degree holders and as such did not qualify for the posts, according to the SC judgment. “Many have obtained these degrees from fake and unauthorised universities that are not recognised 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 scrutinise these degrees and ensure that ODL diploma holders are rejected,” the rejected candidates felt.
The aggrieved aspirants have sought an in depth inquiry into the matter of selection of candidates in the current recruitment drive for teachers in Garo Hills.
The letter was submitted in Shillong last week.