Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Oct 9: The Goa Education Department has approved transfer requests of 78 primary school teachers ahead of the first-term examinations, which began on October 5, amid concerns raised by students over disruptions to their studies and by teachers over additional responsibilities.

A total of 96 primary teachers have been transferred, of whom 78 sought transfers from their existing places of posting, while the remaining 18 were shifted on administrative grounds. The transfer order issued on September 29 specifically states that the postings of the 78 teachers were made “on request”.

A senior Education Department official said the requests had been pending for some time and were approved accordingly. The official added that the new postings were not too far from the teachers’ existing workplaces.

Under the transfer orders, the teachers have been directed to reside within a radius of 0.3 km from their respective schools and inform the Deputy Directors of the concerned Zonal Education Offices about their new residential addresses.

The transfers come at a time when teacher movements during the academic year have become a concern in several schools, with students protesting against the shifting of teaching staff and citing disruptions to their studies.

Meanwhile, recently promoted teachers have raised concerns over being assigned dual responsibilities. Nearly 56 of the 77 teachers promoted as Assistant District Educational Inspectors/Teacher Grade-I have reportedly been asked to continue their earlier teaching duties while taking up responsibilities in their new cadre.

The approval of 78 transfer requests shortly before the first-term examinations has raised concerns over the timing of the exercise and its possible impact on continuity in schools during the examination period.