Compulsory transfer for NE teachers to serve in difficult areas

[TamilNet, Sunday, 23 March 2003, 14:26 GMT]
North East Provincial Ministry has instructed its twenty-four zonal directors of education to formulate a transfer scheme for teachers to serve in schools in difficult rural areas in the province for at least three years, sources said.

"Teachers should not be allowed to serve in urban areas indefinitely without serving in difficult areas," said Provincial Ministry of Education Secretary Mr.R.Thiagalingam in a circular issued Saturday, sources said.

Provincial education ministry has taken this step to ease acute shortage of teachers in rural schools in LTTE held areas in the northeast province, sources said. At present excess teachers serve in urban schools and almost all the schools in difficult areas are understaffed affecting rural education. However teachers transferred to difficult areas usually get their transfers cancelled using political influence, sources said.

The circular further states that teacher transfer scheme should be implemented to ensure educational facilities in rural and difficult area schools are on par with the urban schools in the northeast province.