Education officials face criticism over selection of teachers for international visit

Teachers in Mancherial have accused School Education department officials of selecting ineligible candidates for an international teacher exposure programme, alleging violations of government guidelines. The DEO denied the allegations, insisting the selections were made as per norms.

Mancherial: Officials of the School Education department came under criticism for selecting allegedly ineligible teachers for an international exposure and educational exchange programme.

The Telangana School Education department had planned a five-day teacher exposure and exchange visit for teachers and education officials to enhance professional competencies and provide exposure to global best practices in school education. Under the initiative, around 160 participants in four batches of 40 members each, comprising teachers and education officials, are visiting Singapore, Finland, Vietnam and Japan during October and November. Each district was directed to select three teachers from government school managements through an expert committee.

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The expert committee, headed by the District Collector, includes the Additional Collector (Local Bodies), District Educational Officer and a senior district officer. As per the norms, one teacher must be from the Secondary Grade Teacher cadre and the remaining two from the School Assistant and Principal cadres.

The government issued detailed guidelines to ensure fairness, transparency and adherence to norms in the selection process. The final list of teachers was to be approved by a state-level expert committee after receiving nominations from the districts.

Officials said three teachers were chosen for the international visit. However, several applicants alleged that ineligible candidates were selected in violation of guidelines, undermining the objectivity of the initiative. They said they would raise the issue with higher authorities in the department.

District Educational Officer Yadaiah said the selection process was conducted in line with the prescribed guidelines and that the district-level committee, chaired by the Collector, had chosen eligible teachers for the programme.