Teachers' transfers: Technical issues delay counselling

It was amidst a lot of chaos, technical glitches and a blame game between the department and teachers that the counselling process for teachers’ transfers began in the city on Tuesday.

It was after a lot of debate and protest that the counselling process was given a green signal. In the wake of the byelections, the department of primary and secondary education had written to the Election Commission, seeking permission to go ahead with the counselling process. The EC said they could grant permission, but it must be ensured that there were no violations of the code of conduct.

Teachers had assembled at the designated centres as early as 9.30 am for the process that was scheduled to begin at 10 am. However, till late in the afternoon, it did not commence.

“It was 2 pm by the time it started in most districts. Some other places did not see it start,” said a teacher. It was only in the evening that counselling began in Vijayapura, Ballari and Raichur districts.

One of the teachers said even by the end of the day, technical glitches in the system were not resolved in Dakshina Kannada district and hence, the counselling had to be postponed. Several of them raised slogans against the department and said they were unprepared for the counselling process.

To add to their woes, most teachers said neither drinking water nor toilet facilities were available at a few counselling centres.

“The department is conducting counselling during Dasara vacations and this has caused inconvenience to most of us who had made plans for a holiday with a long weekend ahead,” said a teacher from Devanahalli.

B K Basavaraju, director, primary education, said that it was due to issues with the entry of data of candidates that there was a delay in the process. He said the problem had been fixed and that the compulsory, request transfers would take place without glitches.