MLC moves Bombay high court against Maharashtra for cancelling approvals for non-teaching staff in primary schools

MLC from teachers' constituency Ramnath Mote has filed a writ petition in the Bombay high court against the state's decision to not approve any non-teaching staff in primary schools in the state.

According to a chronicle issued by the state school education department, following a meeting held on February 20, since the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009, does not prescribe any non-teaching positions for primary schools, the state cannot give approvals for the same.

It is also directed that the existing positions must be declared as surplus and the staff should be accommodated in vacant posts in secondary schools. According to Mote, there are approximately 2,600 such posts in primary schools in the state.

As per the Bombay Primary Education Act, 1947, every primary school with more than 500 students can appoint a junior clerk and a peon. "Earlier, rules allowed one clerk and peon if the school's student strength was more than 500. While the implementation of the decision won't affect the staff as they will continue to remain employed, it will inconvenience schools as teachers and students will have to engage in administrative duties. Who will do the school's daily chores? It will only affect the quality of education as teachers will be forced to take up these activities," said Mote.

However, education department officials said it was not a new decision and that they were only following rules as per an earlier government resolution. "The state has not decided anything new. Under the RTE Act, no non-teaching staff is prescribed for primary schools belonging to the state government and local bodies... For non-teaching staff in private aided schools, the policy is fixed by a government resolution dated January 23, 2013," said state school education secretary Ashwini Bhide.