Chhattisgarh to Recruit 5,000 Teachers Amid Controversy Over School Mergers; Congress, BJP Spar Over Staff Cuts
Raipur: The Chhattisgarh government has announced plans to recruit 5,000 teachers. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai issued directives to begin the recruitment process, declaring the initiative at the conclusion of the ‘Sushasan Tihar’ (Good Governance Festival). Taking to social media, the CM wrote,
“We will recruit teachers. This journey doesn’t end here. We reached people’s doorsteps with the government, earning their trust that we are committed to working for their welfare.”
However, the announcement has triggered a political row between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress over the ongoing “rationalisation” process in government schools.
Congress Warns of 45,000 Teacher Posts Being Eliminated
The opposition has accused the government of reducing teaching posts through the rationalisation initiative, which aims to redistribute teachers from overstaffed schools to understaffed ones, and merge schools with low student and teacher strength into larger institutions.
State Congress President Deepak Baij claimed that over 45,000 teaching positions are being eliminated and 10,463 schools have been directly shut under the guise of a new setup.
“Minimum sanctioned posts in schools have been slashed, leading to the loss of thousands of teaching jobs,” Baij said.
He alleged the government is manipulating the student-teacher ratio in order to avoid new recruitments. In primary schools, the ratio is being increased from 1 teacher per 21.48 students to 1 per 30, and in middle schools from 1 per 26.2 students to 1 per 35. This adjustment, he said, could potentially eliminate one-third of teaching posts.
Baij also announced a phased state-wide agitation against what he called an “anti-education and anti-employment” move, asserting that rationalisation would force fewer teachers to handle unmanageable workloads.
Practical Challenges Raised by Congress
Baij questioned the feasibility of the new norms. For instance, primary schools typically have 18 subjects across Grades 1–5, taught by three teachers who take six 40-minute classes daily. Under the new rules, only two teachers would be left to handle the same load.
In middle schools, where one HM (Headmaster) and one teacher would be responsible for 18 classes for 60 students, he asked how such staffing could provide quality education.
BJP Counters with Rationalisation Benefits
The BJP has taken to social media to defend the rationalisation move, refuting Congress’ claims and highlighting the benefits of improved education quality through better resource allocation.
According to the government, the rationalisation aims to ensure optimal use of resources and improve learning outcomes, not to disrupt education or eliminate jobs.
Teachers’ Association Highlights Vacancies
Chhattisgarh Teachers’ Association President Sanjay Sharma noted that 63,695 teaching posts are currently vacant in the education department — 43,243 through direct recruitment and 19,452 through promotion. He criticized the rationalisation being implemented outside the framework of the 2008 setup and warned that nearly every primary and middle school would lose one teaching post.
Government Clarifies: Only 166 Schools to be Merged
Responding to concerns, the School Education Department said reports of thousands of school closures are misleading. Only 166 schools are being merged, out of a total of 10,463 government schools, and 10,297 will remain fully operational.
The government clarified that the 166 schools marked for rationalisation include:
- 133 rural schools with fewer than 10 students located within 1 km of another school
- 33 urban schools with fewer than 30 students located within 500 metres of another institution
Appeal Against Rumours
Officials stressed that “merging” schools is not the same as “closing” them. The move is intended to optimise resources and enhance the quality of education without disrupting students’ learning. School buildings will remain in use, and teachers will be assigned as per local requirements.
The government has urged the public to avoid spreading or believing rumours.
