Govt to pay surplus teachers’ salaries

MUMBAI: Teachers who were declared surplus under the amendments of the Right to Education Act will be paid salaries by the government till they find new jobs, stated a circular released by the school education department on Thursday.

Strict action will be taken against government or aided schools that don’t accommodate surplus teachers and nonteaching staff.

“On July 14, a decision to not pay salaries to the surplus teachers was taken by the directorate of education, after they were termed surplus under the new student-teacher ratio stipulated in the Right to Education Act. Arrangements should be made immediately to pay their pending salaries offline and from now on, these teachers should only be paid offline,” stated the resolution.

The government resolution was issued after representatives of a teachers’ association complained to Ashwini Bhide, secretary of the department, that they had not received salaries for the past three to four months.

“We are happy with the circu lar, it will force the officials to find jobs for teachers quickly,” said Anil Bornare, member of the teachers’ association.

The circular has instructed district education officials to accommodate the teachers in schools that have vacancies.

“The teachers should be accommodated in new posi tions soon. An inquiry should be started against schools not accepting these teachers,” stated the circular.

Education officials have also been asked to prepare a plan of positions that will be vacant in the future depending on retiring teachers. “This will help officials in keep track of positions open ing up,” stated the circular.