Itanagar, March 6: The government of Arunachal Pradesh has begun taking steps to tackle the shortage of principals in higher secondary schools across the state, Education Minister Pasang Dorjee Sona informed the Assembly on March 6.
Responding to a query raised by Thangwang Wangham, an MLA of the National People’s Party, during Question Hour, the minister said that under the existing Recruitment Rules of 2010, headmasters and vice-principals must complete eight years of qualifying service before becoming eligible for promotion to the post of principal. However, he noted that none of the officers currently serving in the feeder posts meet this eligibility requirement.
As an interim arrangement, the government has started assigning vice-principals to perform the duties of principals until the recruitment rules are revised. Sona stated that principals would be posted in various schools once the rules are amended.
The minister further informed the House that the department has proposed a one-time relaxation in the recruitment rules, particularly concerning the required qualifying service for headmasters and vice-principals. The proposal is presently under process, and regular appointments will be taken up after the convening of the Departmental Promotion Committee.
According to the minister, the state currently has 110 higher secondary schools with 100 sanctioned posts for principals. Addressing concerns raised by Wangham, who represents the Longding-Pumao constituency, Sona acknowledged that the higher secondary school in Longding district has been operating without a principal for a long period.
He said the issue has been taken note of and that efforts are underway to fill the vacant post, attributing the delay to the absence of officers who meet the eight-year service requirement stipulated under the current rules.
Sona also told the Assembly that the government is planning a broader restructuring of the education department and is considering the abolition of the post of district adult education officer, which he said has become redundant in the present context. He urged legislators to extend their cooperation in the government’s efforts to streamline the state’s education system.
