Wardha: A sanitation worker was temporarily appointed as a teacher at a municipal council school at Pulgaon in Wardha district, triggering outrage among citizens and education experts, who termed the appointment a violation of Right to Education Act that mandates appointment of only qualified personnel.A July 11 circular by chief officer Vijaykumar Ashrama stated, “Chetan Chandale from the sanitation department is being appointed temporarily in an additional role for teaching, without financial remuneration.” Subsequently, Ashrama cancelled the order five days later, citing it as a “clerical error” by the education department. The vacancy arose after the transfer of a teacher, Shankar Jadhav, from Shaheed Bhagat Singh Primary School.Chetan Chandale, a municipal council sanitation worker, was given additional responsibility of teaching at Rani Laxmibai primary School, even though he did not have the requisite educational qualifications or teacher training certification. Chandale dropped out of college after his second year of graduation and has no teaching experience. Talking to TOI, Chandale said, “I was deputed to fill the teaching vacancy, but I have no experience. I cannot teach.” Headmaster Satish Rakhude, currently away for training, claimed no prior knowledge of the appointment.Condemning the appointment, Maharashtra State Primary Teachers’ Association president Vijay Kombe said, “Even if a sanitation worker is educated, specific qualifications are mandatory to be a teacher. The incident raises concern and must be investigated. Qualified teachers should be appointed without delay.” The issue gained political traction, with demands growing for an inquiry, since it happened in the home district of minister of state (school education) Pankaj Bhoyar.
