Shillong, Dec 16: Advocate Nazmul Hashan, President, Garo Hills Youth Organisation (GHYO) filed a petition with the office of the Director of School Education and Literacy (DSEL), Shillong on December 6 for stopping the appointments of candidates in the elementary schools of the state and the same petition was also filed with the office of the Sub-Division school Education Officer (SDSEO), Ampati, South West Garo Hills, and this was forwarded to the Deputy Commissioner, South West Garo Hills, Ampati for necessary action as to keep in abeyance the appointments of teachers in various Government LP and UP schools (elementary schools) following the order of the Supreme Court of India.
The Apex Court held that the notion that 18 months’ D.El.Ed ( Diploma in Elementary Education) diploma (ODL) course in elementary education conducted by NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling) is equal to two years of diploma is erroneous. The court further held that holding 18 months’ diploma conducted by NIOS through ODL mode was provided as a onetime window to the in- service teachers only to acquire their minimum qualifications. Hence, two-year diploma is not equivalent to 18 months’ diploma and it is inconsistent with the law and with the facts laid down in the judgement.
Consequently, it is pertinent and crystal clear to say that 18 months’ diploma (D.El.Ed.) holders are only qualified for the services, wherein they are already appointed and working as in-service teachers in various schools as enumerated in the prescribed norms/regulation/guidelines/law for in-service teachers but not eligible to apply in any fresh recruitments with the 18 months’ diploma course as elaborated in the court order.
However, it has been observed that there are candidates in different sub-divisions/ districts of the state who had applied for the MTET examination and cleared the eligibility test (MTET) and selected for the post of assistant teachers in various Sub-Divisional School Education Offices of the state.
In view of the facts and circumstances and in the light of the judgement of the Supreme Court, it has therefore been urged that the appointments of teachers be stopped until and unless any order or direction is passed by the state government/union government or concerned department whichever is earlier with a view to keep in mind the order of the court to exempt the 18 months’ diploma (D.El.Ed) holders to be appointed in any fresh recruitment and thereby appoint the qualified and deserving candidates to avoid any court cases in future and to avoid pendency of appointments of qualified candidates.
