Recently, Arunachal Pradesh has introduced the Teachers’ Transfer & Posting Policy, 2020, with the objective of delivering a more balanced distribution of teachers. This move is an effort to safeguard the students’ academic interests and boost job satisfaction among educators across the state. It provides a credible and transparent method for teacher distribution.
Categorizing Schools into Three Tiers
The policy isdefined by a new framing of government schools into three distinct categories based on topography, accessibility, and difficulty level of teacher stay at the posting place. The categories are hard, medium, and soft.
About Hard Schools
Hard schools refer to institutions that are located in areas characterised by challenging topography and accessibility. Hard postings, which apply to all newly recruited teachers, span a period of three years, inclusive of the probation duration.
About Medium Schools
Medium schools situate in areas with moderate accessibility, connectivity, and topographical difficulties. Once new entrants complete their stint in hard schools, they progress to spending the next five years in medium category schools.
About Soft Schools
Soft schools represent urban-centric institutions that enjoy easy access and wide-ranging connectivity. Teachers graduate to being posted at soft schools after successfully completing their terms in hard and medium schools.
| Schools Category | Topography | Accessibility | Assignment Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hard Schools | Difficult | Difficult | 3 Years |
| Medium Schools | Moderate | Moderate | 5 Years |
| Soft Schools | Easy | Easy | Variable, after completion of Hard and Medium category. |
Addressing the Issue of Teacher Absenteeism
The scheme aims to address a significant issue in the domain of public education in Arunachal Pradesh – teacher absenteeism. This problem has skewed the student-teacher ratio towards urban centres with superior connectivity. The state experiences challenges in supplying teachers to remote areas that have an ample student population but lack an adequate teaching staff. The Teachers’ Transfer & Posting Policy, 2020 also incorporates a provision for the online transfer of teachers, further fostering transparency and convenience in its implementation.