HYDERABAD: The Telangana government informed the Hyderabad High Court here on Friay that more than 10,961 vacant regular teacher posts in 26,050 secondary schools across the state were filled with Vidya Volunteers.
In this regard, the government has filed a counter affidavit before the court pursuant to the latter’s direction in a taken up case based on 1,667 letters of Boyyalagudem upper primary school students and other students of Kesavaram, Chintala Kunta, Mittadoddi, Yellamdoddi, Chagadona and Argigadda of the district.
While informing the High Court that they don’t have teachers, the schoolchildren complained that there are only two teachers for 414 students in Boyyalagudem upper primary school and one teacher for 180 students for classes 5 and 6 in Kesavaram village. Besides, no teacher is available for 166 students in Chintala Kunta village school, 120 students in Mittadoddi and 120 students in Yellamdoddi villages.
The state government, in its counter affidavit, submitted that after noticing the discrepancies in student teacher ratio, it has taken steps for rationalization of teachers and students and accommodated teachers in the schools where the teachers ratio is less than the students. It also informed the Court about appointment of Vidya Volunteers.
The government further submitted that during counselling for transfer of teachers, it was noticed that most of the teachers preferred to work in urban areas and in the villages where better facilities are available. In order to overcome the problem, the government has issued proceedings on July 13 that the junior-most teacher of the school has to work in that particular school till an alternative arrangement was made in the case of he or she opting for transfer.
With regard to seven schools in Mahbubnagar district from which the students wrote letters to the High Court, the government has sanctioned 41 teachers, including 11 Vidya Volunteers. The government urged the court to dismiss the petition as it was committed to provide quality education to students.
In August this year, a division bench of the Court comprising Acting Chief Justice Dilip B Bhosale and Justice S V Bhatt while dealing with the above taken up case, had expressed displeasure at the authorities at the way education of rural children is being treated in the districts. The bench felt the need of passing an order on the lines of Allahabad High Court which ordered the UP state chief secretary to ensure that the government officials who are serving in local bodies, and the representatives of the people and judiciary send their children only to government schools. While adjourning the case hearing, it directed the state government to file counter affidavit in the plea.