In an administrative move, the School Education Department has announced the transfer of 23,145 primary teachers across the state to address the growing imbalance in the student-teacher ratio.
“The decision aims to ensure quality education and uniform distribution of teachers in schools,” said an official of the education department.
According to the department, the transfers will be district-based, meaning teachers will be shifted only within their respective districts. “The move follows an analysis of data collected from the Bangla Education Portal in September, which revealed a significant disparity, while some schools have a surplus of teachers, others are struggling with acute shortages, said the official.
The report showed that 23,145 teachers are in excess, whereas 23,962 teaching positions remain vacant in various schools across the state. To bridge this gap, the government has launched a teacher rationalisation process under the supervision of the 22 District Primary Education Councils.
Officials have confirmed that the entire transfer process will be carried out under the direct monitoring of the Primary Education Department to ensure transparency and prevent any form of administrative disorder.
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“The initiative has sparked mixed reactions among educators and teacher organisations. Many have welcomed the move as a “necessary and realistic” step that could improve teaching standards and ensure every student receives adequate attention. Others, however, have expressed concern over the social and emotional impact of mass transfers, especially on teachers who have been serving in the same schools for years,” said a teacher of a Nadia primary school.
Currently, many urban and semi-urban primary schools have a large number of teachers but relatively few students.
“Rural schools are grappling with severe teacher shortages, often functioning with just one or two teachers for all classes. To address this imbalance, the government has already adopted the ‘Three Teacher Policy’, aiming to ensure that every primary school has at least three teachers. As part of this policy, teachers from schools with staff surpluses, particularly in urban areas, will be transferred to rural and remote schools,” said the education department’s official.
With this sweeping reorganisation, the Education Department hopes to create a more balanced and effective learning environment for students across West Bengal.
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