M A I L B A G

B.Ed teachers: govt confusing jobless youth

First, the Punjab government appointed ETT teachers. Some B.Ed candidates were also appointed on ETT posts. Then, under extreme pressure, the Education Minister hinted at appointing about 15,000 B.Ed teachers. As time passed by, he reduced this figure to 10,000!

In June last, the government advertised for 2,000 B.Ed teachers through the SSB. Even as the cut-off merit list was yet to be released, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh announced the appointment of 6,600 B.Ed teachers. In the meantime, the government advertised for another 2,614 B.Ed teachers and 1314 (Lecturers, BEOs and Headmasters) through C-DAC, Mohali.

As the SSB list of selected candidates has not yet been released, all the candidates have applied for 2,614 posts. It is said that the merit list for 2,614 posts will be the same as that of the SSB selection list. ETT teachers (B.Ed candidates appointed to ETT posts earlier) have also applied for the same.

Consequently, where would other candidates with lower ranks in the merit list go? I am afraid, the government is trying to divert the attention of the unemployed youth instead of giving them jobs.

VIPAN K. SIKRI, Ferozepore

II

The Punjab government is recruiting masters and lecturers on mass scale purely on merit basis without interview and bonus marks etc. The selection criteria include the percentage of marks in B.Ed.

However, universities adopt different ways for awarding degree marks certificates. For instance, Jammu University and Punjabi University, Patiala, show total marks i.e. sum of internal and external marks. However, Panjab University, Chandigarh, shows only external marks in the certificate.

The GNDU University, Amritsar, in the past, followed the Panjab University pattern, but presently it has switched over to the Punjabi University and Jammu University pattern. The government should follow a uniform pattern by considering only the external marks of the B.Ed degree holders.

S.K. GUPTA, Lehra Mohabat (Bathinda)

III

I refer to Dr Sneha Garg’s letter on teachers’ recruitment (Nov 8). For just and fair selection of masters and lecturers, the Punjab government should follow a uniform criterion for taking B.Ed marks.

The students who got B.Ed degrees from private colleges under Punjabi University/ Jammu University got the benefit of internal marks given to them by their universities as these were added in their degree marks cards. However, those who got B.Ed degree from Panjab University stand to lose as this university does not take into consideration the internal marks.

The authorities are giving a deaf ear to the requests made by meritorious candidates in this regard. Will the Punjab government try to correct these irregularities before issuance of the appointment orders?

DEWAN CHAND, Rajpura (Patiala)

IV

The age limit for the appointment of B.Ed teachers (general category) is 18-37 years. I appeal to the Punjab government to raise the age limit to 40 years for various reasons. There has been no recruitment of teachers for a long time. The pension system has been changed since January 1, 2004 and now it is a big burden on the government. And the Haryana government follows the 18-40 age limit for teachers’ recruitment.

Moreover, according to the advertisement in question, the upper age limit is 45 years in case of Punjab government employees and other Central and state government employees. This relaxation of age should be extended to the employees of Government aided private schools and CBSE-run schools in Punjab as well.

PARSHOTAM LAL, Headmaster (retd), Panchkula

V

I welcome the recruitment of various categories of teachers purely on the basis of merit by the Punjab government. This will give the right kind of encouragement to brilliant people and check favouritism and nepotism.

Generally, there is lot of scope for corruption in the selections through interview. Even otherwise, a single test of short duration is no effective yardstick to measure one’s intelligence and suitability for the post. I would appeal to the Himachal Pradesh government to emulate the Punjab government in the recruitment of B.Ed teachers.

SANTOSH KUMAR JAMWAL,Chauki Jamwalan (Hamirpur)

Draw of plots

The Punjab Planning and Urban Development Authority (PUDA) has asked the applicants to check the list displayed in their Jalandhar office regarding the draw of plots at Sultanpur Lodhi. In this age of information technology, PUDA should not expect people to travel all the way to Jalandhar to check the list. Why can’t they put it on the website?

NEELAM TAKYAR, Chandigarh