Supreme Court slams ad hoc appointment of teachers in primary schools

Supreme Court slams ad hoc appointment of teachers in
primary schools
Delhi: Appointment of teachers in primary schools on ad hoc
basis by various state governments without following proper
qualification criteria on Monday drew flak from the Supreme
Court which said that such policies are spoiling the entire
education system and future of the country.
A bench of justices B.S. Chauhan and Dipak Misra expressed
strong disapproval of such a system and said it was
“shocking” that it can be pursued even after the
implementation of Right to Education Act.
“A populist principality cannot spoil the future of the country.
We want to know qualification of teachers,” the bench said
while hearing Gujarat government’s plea on a case
pertaining to appointment of “Vidya Sahayak” in primary
schools in the state.
“How do you bring such policies when there is Article 21A. It
is shocking. There are such appointments in Uttar Pradesh
also.
These Shiksha Sahayaks (helpers) are Shiksha shatrus
(enemies),” the bench observed asking the state government
to place details relating to qualification and appointment of
such teachers.
The bench noted that ad-hoc appointment of primary
teachers are done in many states which provide them less
than one-forth salary given to regular teachers.
“Once we have implemented Article 21A, can we allow such
system? Our concern is quality of education and we are very
serious about the kind of education we are imparting,” the
bench said adding, “We spoil the entire education system by
appointing ad-hoc teachers who do not have proper
qualification”.