Kolkata: The state school education department is set to launch a drive to rationalise the pupil-teacher ratio (PTR) at state-run schools to ensure balanced classroom teaching and learning. The department has prepared an SOP for the transfer of teaching and non-teaching staff from zero-enrolment schools as well as teachers from schools that have surplus number of educators to campuses struggling with staff shortage.The department issued a notice, applicable to all govt-aided and sponsored primary as well as secondary schools, which stated that the SOP was aimed at achieving optimal deployment of teaching and non-teaching staff to ensure a healthy pupil-teacher ratio. All teaching and non-teaching staff at zero-enrolment primary schools will be considered for transfer, the notice stated. For secondary schools, surplus teachers for individual subjects at different schools will be considered for such transfers to campuses with fewer teachers.Teachers as well as non-teaching staff members facing transfers can submit their preferences from a list of schools, prepared by the education department, within a deadline. But if they fail to submit their preferences within the time limit or if the preferred schools cannot accommodate them due to absence of vacancy, the authorities concerned can assign them to any identified of the listed institutes, based on their requirements. The notice stated that after the transfers from zero-enrolment schools, the district administration will take over the buildings and submit the status report of the physical assets of the properties to the education department. The state will later decide on the fate of those vacant buildings.According to current data, there are around 1,600 schools with zero enrolment, and 6,700 with fewer than 10 students. But 27,000 teachers are deployed at these low-enrolment schools.Chandan Garai, secretary of All Post-Graduate Teachers’ Welfare Association, said, “The rationalisation process has finally rolled out. These schools, teachers and non-teaching staff have been suffering for the past 20 years. This move will ensure proper deployment of teaching and non-teaching staff, who can no longer be blamed for non-performance. Students will finally receive quality education.” Animesh Haldar from Secondary Teachers’ and Employees’ Association, said, “The infrastructure of these schools should be upgraded to bring about a meaningful change in the school education system.”Surplus teachers will be given an opportunity to submit their preferencesThe govt take further decision for respective school buildings after the transfer process gets over
