SHUBHANGI SHIFA
Ranchi, Aug 31: The teachers of government schools in Jharkhand have refused to make caste certificates for students from classes 1 to 12. The All Jharkhand Primary Teachers Association has strongly opposed the state government’s order directing school teachers to provide caste certificates to the children. The union said that the action taken against teachers for non-academic work is unfair.
Notably, the state government had earlier decided that caste certificates for students will be made in schools so that students don’t have to face issues during admissions to higher education. It was decided then that the school teachers will be doing the work regarding the same. Under this, caste certificates will be made available to all the students of Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, BC I and BC II studying in government schools of the state.
Rekha Sinha, a teacher in one of the government middle schools in Ranchi said, “During the Corona period, the education of students came to a complete halt for two years. This has caused a lot of damage to the basics among the students. It is very important to make up for it. We have been working long hours just to make up for it. Even after this, the future of the students is being played with by making us do non-academic work.”
Teachers have appealed to boycott the order. Union officials say that the job of teachers is only to teach students. Circle officers, CIs and other employees are appointed to make caste certificates. They are skilled in this task. They know the rules and details better than teachers.
While talking to lagatar24.com correspondent on the matter, Vijendra Chaubey, president of the Teachers’ Association said, “This is not the work of teachers. We are being given several kinds of non-teaching work. However, this affects the education of students. Several holidays have also similarly affected education and may continue to do so in the coming months.”
“Education secretary Rajesh Kumar Sharma had promised us that the orders will be rescinded, however, it is yet to happen,” Chaubey added.
Meanwhile, Secretary Rajesh Sharma has denied ever promising to rescind the orders. He said, “I have never promised to take back the order. This will not happen. Also, no teachers have even talked to me about it.”
Talking of the work the teachers will have to do for caste certificates he said, “It will take a maximum of two days on average. Most of the work will be done by personnel from Pragya Kendra, who will collect all the data. All the teachers need to do is get the students to fill the forms.”
“On average, 120 students are in each school apart from the bigger schools which have up to 1000 students. Getting them to fill up the forms may take around one to two hours on an average, and can be done in a day or can take two days at most,” the secretary said.
He further added, “This initiative will help around 20 lakh children, who in the long run will be able to benefit from several scholarship programmes run by the government.”
