Over the weekend, many Twitterati were confused by this claim; some were enraged. Is the state which arguably has the maximum thrust on literacy going to appoint 344 “teachers” as sweepers? The short answer is no, and the long answer is no.
The background is that the state government is shutting down the multi-grade learning centres (MGLC)—commonly known as eka adhyapaka vidyalayangal or “single-teacher schools”—which were established in tribal belts. While most schools have below five students, some have above 10. Yes, there were 344 of these schools. But, no, the faculty there were not strictly “teachers” according to the education department’s terms.
These faculty members were volunteers who were appointed as instructors; most of them are only matriculates. While there are claims that there are graduates among them and some who have completed the Teachers Training Course, THE WEEK could not independently verify this. The minimum qualification for becoming an instructor is matriculation.
With the MGLCs being forced to shut down to comply with the new education policy, the Pinarayi Vijayan government threw the instructors a lifeline and absorbed them into government service as last grade employees. This would put the instructors on a regular payroll.
Students from the MGLCs would be enrolled in neighbourhood government primary schools. This would ensure that their education complies with the standards set by the Right to Education Act and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. “The government’s plan is to impart proper education to tribal children as the education imparted in MGLCs was found to be lacking,” Higher Education Principal Secretary A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish told THE WEEK.
According to Hanish, the government has also decided to strengthen the existing Gothra Sarathi programme to support students of the erstwhile MGLCs. The Gothra Sarathi programme works with the education department, local self-government bodies and parent teacher associations to ferry tribal children to regular schools.
While the instructors are happy about entering the government rolls, they have their concerns. “I am happy that I am entering government service. But I don't have many years left to retire now and so I won't be eligible for pension,” said K.R. Usha Kumari, who was in charge of Kunnathumala school in Amboori in Thiruvananthapuram district for the past 23 years. She is also sad about the fact that she will no longer have the reputation of being a teacher. “In a way, I am happy that I will get a proper salary every month, but I will also miss being with children,” she said. According to her, most instructors are around 60 years old.
According to Anil, instructor at Periya Pulikkal MGLC in Kasaragod district, the new arrangement would benefit the students as they will get an opportunity to study in proper schools. “We hope the government will ensure that the students will be picked and dropped as per the Gothra Sarathi programme with the help of the local panchayat,” he said. According to him, the salary dues of instructors have been cleared in the last month.
Tribal activists, however, have concerns about the efficacy of the plan. “The future of tribal children now depends solely on the efficiency of the Gothra Sarathi programme. It has not been functioning properly after the pandemic,” said Ajay Kumar, a tribal activist. “The government must ensure that it works smoothly. Otherwise, the future of these tribal children is in the dark.”
