Posts of contractual teachers not to be regularised, funds deficit to pay salary: Assam Education Minister

Assam Education Minister Siddhartha Bhattacharya on Monday announced that the posts of contractual teachers across the state shall not be regularised due to deficit of funds to pay salary. This announcement was made by the minister while addressing media persons after taking part in an event at Biswanath Law College.

This has led to uncertainties among 6,500 High School teachers and 29,000 TET teachers who have been serving in a contractual basis across the state. It may be mentioned here that the 6,500 High School teachers had already appealed to Gauhati High Court regarding the matter.

Bhattacharya, citing fund deficit as the reason behind not regularising the posts, said "When the contractual teachers joined the jobs, they already knew that they had been appointed for a certain period of time, under a particular scheme. We have to consider the fund as well as necessity of staff while regularising the posts."

The minister also criticised former education minister, though without mentioning his name, saying "Even we can appoint teachers in mass meetings, but we also have to consider funds for giving them regular salaries. I am the education minister now and I shall appoint teachers only after I make sure that they get their salaries regularly."

He also announced that the monthly salary of contractual teachers shall be increased from Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000. However, it may be mentioned here that contractual teachers from Assam have not received their salaries from the last four months.

Bhattacharya also said that bicycle, instead of scooty, shall be given to girl students citing reasons of expenditure on fuel and accident vulnerability.