SHILLONG, Feb 10: Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma on Monday cautioned the heads of institutions and teachers to remove proxy teachers or face stern action.
He said if a complaint is filed, the state government will initiate action and the head of the institution will be held accountable as it is his or her responsibility to ensure such practices are not allowed.
“I heard some schools or teachers are using proxy teachers, which is against the principles. If the government receives such complaints, it will take strong action against these teachers,” Sangma said.
He admitted that many understaffed schools use the services of teachers at an additional cost. “Such efforts are appreciated but using proxy teachers is wrong,” he added.
Asking the heads of the institutions and teachers to avoid such illegal practices, he said teachers should follow the rules and apply for leave if they need a break.
Regarding allegations that the Teacher Information Management System (TIMS) app, introduced to address the issue of inconsistent attendance of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan teachers, compromised transparency and administrative efficiency, the minister said the system is taking its own course.
He said the TIMS, mandatory for all schools, has not been implemented in some schools due to technical difficulties. “We will make sure all the schools have TIMS. It should not become a burden but enable easy record of attendance,” he added.
The minister said teachers should keep pace with the online generation and learn to take responsibility. “It is the prerogative of the heads of the institutions to ensure that all teachers attend classes regularly,” he pointed out.
“There are teachers who come to the school regularly but there are others whose attendance is not regular and it reflects on the performance of the schools. Very low enrolment of students in some schools may be the reason for teachers not attending classes,” Sangma said. He urged the teachers to take care of the children, the future of the state and the country.
Concern over results
Sangma revealed that while the urban schools are doing well in the SSLC and HSSLC examinations, the underperforming rural schools are expected to do better this time with initiatives in place.
“All the schools in the cities are performing well but the problem is in the rural areas. We are motivating the underperforming schools for better results this time,” he said.
The motivational programmes include CM Impact supplementary classes and exams, he said.
About the commencement of the new academic year, he said: “Our state has the potential to contribute to the education sector in a bigger way but somewhere something is wrong as we are not getting the expected results. We are encouraging the head of the institutions, students.”
Stating that many teachers and students do not receive the required motivation, he said, “We have instructed the DCs and DSEOs to inspect the schools as there are many without teachers. We requested all officers to reach out to all schools by visiting sometimes and giving them encouragement and motivation.”
