Setback for unemployed youth as JBT appointments put on hold after Himachal govt’s new decision on low-enrolment schools
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In a development impacting the state’s unemployed youth, the Himachal Pradesh government has decided to put Junior Basic Training (JBT) teacher appointments on hold in the wake of the government’s move to merge schools with fewer students, a step aimed at optimising educational resources.
The Elementary Education Department has sought approval from the government to reassign the schools allotted to 1,161 newly appointed teachers. This reassignment has become necessary as approximately 700 schools, each with a student strength of five or fewer, are set to be merged.
In some districts, the list of teachers selected on a batchwise basis has already been released, including JBT teachers appointed to schools slated for merger due to low student numbers. As a result, the Education Department has halted the release of batchwise recruitment results in other districts until further notice.
Education Department officials revealed that the recently prepared appointment lists will undergo a complete revision. The department is currently assessing the number of students and existing teachers in each school where appointments were made. Based on this information, a reshuffling of school allotments for batchwise selected teachers will take place, further delaying the JBT appointments.
Adding to the complexity, the Education Department is also planning to appoint teachers in the Chief Minister’s Centre of Excellence schools. A decision is pending on whether these positions will be filled by new JBT teachers or through the replacement of senior teachers.
A senior primary education official said the file for appointing JBT teachers had been submitted to the government for approval. “Appointment orders will be issued soon,” he assured, though the timeline remains uncertain due to the ongoing reassessment and school mergers.
“This delay is a significant setback for the state’s unemployed youth, who had been eagerly awaiting these appointments. The uncertainty surrounding the process has added to their woes, highlighting the challenges of balancing educational reforms with employment opportunities,” said Simran Panwar, an unemployed girl from Shimla.
