Assam education minister Siddhartha Bhattacharya. File image: Northeast Now

The Assam government will provincialize the services of teachers in 306 venture schools in the state within the current financial year.

Assam education minister Siddhartha Bhattacharya said this on Wednesday in the assembly while replying to a question by AIUDF legislator Aminul Islam.

Minister Bhattacharya said the government had received proposals for provincialization of services of teachers of the institutions under primary and secondary education department and that necessary steps had been taken for creation of posts and their endorsement.

He said that court cases are hindering the teacher recruitment process, with aggrieved parties often approaching the court to redress their grievances.

As for provincialization of venture institutions under the higher education department, scrutiny is on by the State screening committee, he said, adding that the government had not yet taken any decision on the future of venture institutions not falling under the purview of the two Acts.

Bhattacharya said that as per the Act of 2017, the cutoff date for recognizing the venture schools was January 1, 2006 and that under the law venture schoolteachers not having the mandated educational and professional qualifications would be appointed at tutors.

These teachers will have to obtain the mandated qualifications within the next five years of their appointment, failing which their elevation to the post of teacher will not be possible, he said.

Bhattacharya said that the government had no information regarding venture schoolteachers who had retired without getting salary.

“We have full sympathy for these teachers but there is no provision for offering them any ex-gratia financial assistance,” Bhattacharya added.