New teachers transfer policy; transfers through computer software

Aiming to usher in greater transparency, the Punjab cabinet today cleared a transfer policy for teaching staff in government schools that will be implemented from the ensuing academic session, an official said.
The Transfer Policy 2018, which the cabinet, headed by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has approved, was drafted after detailed deliberations with various stakeholders, including the teachers, school heads, teacher unions and civil societies.
The transfer policies of other states namely Haryana and Karnataka were also examined, an official spokesperson said.
The Cabinet also agreed to the suggestions of its sub-committee that the transfer policy should be implemented through a computer software and in a transparent manner.

It also accepted the suggestion of the sub-committee that the condition that only those male teachers be posted in girls' schools who are above 50 years of age. It alos agreed that teachers attaining the age of 56 years as on March 31 of a year may not be posted out.
However, the department may put certain conditions that such teachers will give an undertaking that they will not seek extension beyond 58 years of age.

Earlier, it was proposed in a draft of teachers' transfer policy that male teachers below the age of 50 should not be posted in schools for girls, drawing a sharp reaction from the teachers' union.

Under the new policy, all schools would be divided into five zones depending upon the distance from the district headquarters and other parameters.
General transfers would be made only once a year, and the notification for the possible vacancies would be made available on the department's website by January 15th every year.
Eligible teachers would be required to submit their options of schools online from 15th January to 15th February every year. Transfer orders will be issued in the last week of March, and joining of teachers will be in the first week of April, said the spokesman.
As per the policy, every teacher will be compulsorily transferred after completing seven years, and no teacher would be able to make a request for transfer before three years.

Further, an objective criterion, by assigning marks to the teachers seeking transfer, has been provided in the policy.
The Cabinet also agreed to the suggestions of its sub-committee that the transfer policy should be implemented through a computer software and in a transparent manner.
The Cabinet sub committee also suggested that unmarried girls may be given one-time option, at the time of marriage, to seek transfer at the time of annual transfers irrespective of requirement of minimum tenure of service in a school.
Similarly, in case of legal separation, such a relaxation may be given to married females also.