Kolkata: Aspiring teachers can be part of non-political organisations but active political activities would not be allowed, Bengal school education minister Dipak Barman said on Thursday.Clarifying the cabinet decision barring teachers from participating in active politics, Barman said state govt wanted teachers to stay out of all political activities. “Teacher cells will not be entertained, meaning they won’t be allowed in active politics. However, there is no issue with them being part of non-political organisations,” the minister added, responding to a media query.Like many of his predecessors, Barman is a schoolteacher himself who is on special leave after taking up his cabinet portfolio.CM Suvendu Adhikari had said on Wednesday that new teachers recruited through West Bengal School Service Commission would not be permitted to take part in active politics.The decision has sparked a debate, with several former MPs and MLAs from teaching backgrounds raising questions, noting that most schools in Bengal are govt-aided and existing acts permit political participation.Reacting to the concerns, Barman said: “Other states already have this system in place. This is nothing new — teachers and staff in govt schools cannot take part in active politics. In our state, teachers and staff from govt-aided schools currently hold that right. The govt has decided that those recruited in the future will not be allowed to participate in active politics. Whatever rules need to be amended to implement this will be updated accordingly.”State higher education minister Jagannath Chattopadhyay, speaking in Suri, reacted by saying: “This cabinet has taken a historic decision. There was a mindset in our state to involve teachers in active politics but that course correction has been made by the cabinet. A teacher’s primary role is to teach, not to participate in politics.”However, several teachers’ organisations and job aspirants have opposed this decision.Suman Biswas, a protesting candidate from the 2016 SSC panel who lost his job following Supreme Court’s order, said: “We oppose this decision because it resembles British-era rule. Teachers have every right to participate in politics and govt cannot restrict it.”In a statement, Association for Protection of Democratic Rights said: “This decision of state govt is deeply undemocratic. We demand its immediate revocation. We fear if this is not resisted now, similar measures will subsequently be directed at professors as well. Teachers and professors are the builders of society. If they do not engage in politics who will? How will society progress? Constructive politics is what moves society forward.”Swapan Mandal, general secretary of Bangiya Sikshak O Sikshakormi Samiti, said: “Teachers and non-teaching staff in other states hold full govt employee status, which is why they are barred from political activities. Teachers and staff in govt-run schools in our state are already prohibited from engaging in politics for the same reason. Therefore, without granting these teachers and non-teaching staff official govt employee status, the govt cannot, under any circumstances, bar them from political involvement.”
