The State government has come out with notification for absorbing trained Swechhasebi Sikshya Sahayak (para-teachers) as regular teachers in primary schools of the State.
A notification issued by School and Mass Education Department says trained Swechhasebi Sikshya Sahayak (para-teachers) of District Primary Education Programme -I who have been absorbed as Sikshya Sahayaks would be treated as junior teachers notionally from the actual date of their absorption as Sikshya Sahayak.
“In this process, they shall become regular primary school teachers under Zilla Parishad after completion of 3 years as junior teachers. Equal number of posts from level-V of the-elementary cadre shall be transferred to the respective Zilla Parishads for their absorption,” it says.
It is to be noted that for the purpose of universalisation of elementary Education, the State government had implemented DPEP-I in 8 districts such as Baragarh, Bolangir, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Kalahandi, Gajapati, Sambalpur and Rayagada with World Bank Assistance.
Simultaneously for strengthening of existing Upper Primary Schools, Operation Black Board scheme (OBB) was implemented with Central assistance.
According to notification, for successful implementation of both the schemes, with limited resources of the State, the scheme of para teachers was mooted.
Accordingly, Swechhasebi Sikshya Sahayak (para-teacher) scheme was introduced to fill up the additional primary school teacher posts required under DPEP-I.
Keeping in view the future liability beyond the funding period, it was decided that regular vacancies of primary school teachers all over the State will be frozen for future adjustment of Swechhasebi Sikshya Sahayak (para-teachers) in such regular vacancies.