The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) in 2018 had admitted in writing that “in many cases” volunteer teachers were engaged illegally in hill schools, an issue that threatens to brew into a major storm here given the ongoing furore over the role of the state education department in teacher hires.

The GTA statement of 2018, made as a part of an order, has assumed fresh significance with political and social organisations seeking a complete review of all teacher appointments made in recent years.Between 2010 and 2019, over 500 teachers had been hired by the state government in consonance with the GTA.Social organisations and political parties want these appointments to be investigated.

On June 25, 2018, the executive director of GTA education department wrote a letter to all school heads (Memo.No. 302 (899)/GTA-EDCN/2017-18) flagging the illegal engagement of some voluntary teachers.It stated that “during scrutiny", it came to notice of the authority that in many cases the candidates engaged without authorisation “do not possess requisite qualifications either; or, were whimsically introduced on violation of earlier Order No 01/1-2/EDN/DGHC/2010-11 dt. 30.07.2010 of the Secretary, Education Department of DGHC” and henceforth the GTA will not entertain or allow engagement of voluntary teachers.

Voluntary teacher is a unique concept for hill schools. Since the School Service Commission (SSC) has been defunct since 2003, many schools have engaged voluntary teachers purportedly against vacant posts.The system was in place from the days of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) formed in 1988 to the GTA formed in 2012.

However, the DGHC on July 30, 2010, wrote to all schools under them that “henceforth no volunteer teachers shall be appointed by the Schools/ Managing Committee of the Schools without the written consent of the Education Department, Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, Darjeeling”.The GTA’s 2018 order states that “in many cases” the DGHC order was violated.

In 2016, Roshan Giri, then executive member (GTA education) had written a letter to the state government for regularisation of volunteer teachers.The state government on May 20, 2016, through memo 669-SE(S)/4A-18/15 (Pt –1, by a “joint secretary” of the school education department (secondary branch) on regularising volunteer teachers under the GTA said “the undersigned is directed to say that regularization /absorption/ appointment of volunteer teachers in GTA cannot be entertained until they secure their candidature through the West Bengal School Service Commission”.

The school education department, quoting a Supreme Court order, had said no appointment could be regularised without a proper selection process. But the state government appeared to have gone back on its 2016 stand of regularising volunteer teachers if one goes by the admission of the 2018 order.

Reactions to the appointments are coming thick and fast. “The appointments were made without issuing any circular, notification or examination,” said Sudhan Gurung, president, Gorkha Unemployed Primary Trained Teachers Welfare Organisation.Bishnu Chettri, president, Kalimpong Krishak Kalyan Sangathan, has written to Union home minister Amit Shah to “intervene” in this matter.Hamro Party, too, has demanded an investigation.Kurseong BJP MLA B.P. Bajgain has submitted a letter and “relevant documents” to the CBI for an inquiry into teacher appointments by the GTA after 2017.