Himachal Pradesh Government Halts Recruitment of 2600 Guest Teachers in Schools and Colleges

Shimla, January 20: The Sukhdev Singh Sukhu-led government in Himachal Pradesh, which had earlier announced the recruitment of 2600 guest teachers in schools and colleges, has now put a hold on this recruitment process. Chief Minister Sukhdev Singh Sukhu stated during a press interaction on Saturday that the implementation of the guest teacher recruitment process would be halted until further orders. He mentioned that a detailed discussion with Education Minister Rohit Thakur would take place before the policy is implemented.

The Chief Minister clarified that the recruitment of guest teachers is temporary, and they will be paid on an hourly basis according to the periods taught. There will be no permanent appointments on a monthly or annual basis. He emphasized that his government has decided to recruit these teachers to enhance the quality of education. Himachal Pradesh has slipped to the 18th position in terms of the quality of education, and the constant transfer of teachers has been a significant reason behind this decline.

Sukhdev Singh Sukhu asserted that the guest teacher recruitment policy is being misunderstood. The government has taken this decision to provide qualitative education to students. The services of guest teachers will be limited to situations like the transfer of regular teachers or other unavoidable circumstances. Merit will play a significant role in the selection of guest teachers, and after counseling, they will have the option to choose their posting stations. For Junior Basic Training (JBT) teachers, eligibility criteria include 75% marks in the 12th class and 65% in the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET). Candidates passing the NET or SET will be eligible for recruitment in college cadre positions.

It’s worth mentioning that the decision to recruit guest teachers on a period basis has faced strong opposition from the unemployed youth, particularly in Shimla, Nahan, and Mandi. Demonstrations and protests have been organized against the policy, with demands from opposition parties and educated unemployed youth to reconsider and withdraw the decision. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has criticized the decision, while educated unemployed youth have taken to the streets in various places to express their disagreement with the guest teacher recruitment policy.