Would-be teachers pledge first salary for improving govt schools’ infrastructure
ALLAHABAD: A group of soon-to-be appointed assistant teachers in government-run primary schools says it has decided not only to donate their own first salaries after joining their respective schools but also motivate fellow new teachers to do the same.
By taking this step, the group aims to raise funds for improving infrastructure like benches, tables and proper drinking water for children at their respective institutions, its members say.
These teachers are part of the Basic Training Certificate (BTC) and the Teachers’ Eligibility Test (TET) qualified applicants who are expected to be appointed as part of the state government’s recruitment for 12,460 vacant posts of assistant teachers in primary schools. The government has already issued a notification for these posts on April 11. Their appointment letters are expected to be issued on May 1.
AtulDwivedi, a youngster who is all set to begin his career as a teacher at a government primary school in the neighbouring Kaushambi district, says: “The gesture is a means of thanksgiving as we faced a lot of ups and down in bagging the job. At one time, all seemed lost. However when the current government paved way for our joining, we wanted to thank it and also do our bit for the temples of learning where we will now work.”
“So, we have decided to donate our first salaries for the betterment of the schools and also adopt them for future such efforts,” he adds. He says he, along with his friends Akhilanand Yadav, Komal Singh Yadav, Deepak Singh and Kabir Chaudhary among others, have conveyed their pledge to UP minister for basic education Anupama Jaiswal.
“We have also started a campaign to convince fellow new teachers to join our mission for the betterment of their respective schools where they will get the appointment. Already, around 150 of our fellow aspirants have promised to join the cause,” says Dwivedi.Atul Dwivedi’s friend Akhilanand Yadav is set to begin his career as an assistant teacher at a school in Basti district. He says he and his friends have already begun an online campaign to convince as many fellow aspirants as possible to adopt the schools and donate their first salaries for the noble cause.
The cause of their happiness can be best understood by the struggle they underwent to bag the job. “The government order for recruitment of 12,460 assistant teachers was issued by the Akhilesh Yadav-led state government on December 15, 2016. After accepting applications, the first round of counselling too was completed between March 18 and March 20, 2017. The selection cutoff for almost all districts was issued on March 22, 2017. However on March 23, 2017, in a big blow to candidates, the then newly elected Yogi Adityanathled state government suspended the recruitment process in the name of reviewing the selections.
“It was a huge setback and we almost lost all hope. Then, an intense legal battle ensued. The aspirants, while staging a protest in Lucknow on March 15, 2018, were lathi-charged by cops. Many were injured. They, however, continued their protest. On March 16, chief minister Yogi Adityanath met aspirants and promised to get the appointment letters issued within a week,” says Atul Dwivedi.