Following allegations of manipulation in the recruitment of two teachers at the Rajabala Higher Secondary School, Rifait Zaman, the former secretary of the school management committee (SMC), has hit back at the complainants, saying that there is no truth in the claims.
Earlier, the ad-hoc SMC had written to the District School Education Officer (DSEO) and claimed that two teachers were appointed even though only one post was advertised. Furthermore, there were also allegations that at least three applicants, despite being eligible, were not given sufficient time ahead of the interview stage.
The applicants also alleged that the results of the interview were not made public, putting the entire process under a cloud.
“Both posts were advertised and we have proof of it. The results were put up on the notice board of the DSEO in Tura for all to see. The process of recruitment was fair and the allegations are completely baseless,” said Zaman in a press release.
According to Zaman, two teachers were scheduled to retire shortly, so the SMC decided to advertise for two replacements. This was communicated to the DSEO through resolutions passed by the SMC in October and November last year.
One teacher retired on June 30 and the other on December 31.
“The advertisement clearly states that applicants must appear before the interview when called. A total of 25 candidates applied for the two posts and eight candidates appeared for the interview. It is not the [requirement] of the SMC to ascertain whether the applicants are out of station or not,” stated Zaman.
The former secretary also rubbished claims made that any request for postponement of the interviews was made by the three applicants.
“Such allegations are fabricated and levelled with the intention to malign the reputation of the SMC of Rajabala HS School,” he asserted. “The interview was conducted in the office of the DSEO and the results were published there itself on the notice board.”
Zaman added there was transparency in the process and the teachers were appointed to the school on February 8 after submissions of the interview and written tests were provided to the DSEO’s office.
