Madhya Pradesh cuts Sanskrit and geography posts amid surplus claims

In Madhya Pradesh, the ongoing counselling process for 35,000 surplus teachers has revealed significant discrepancies, particularly affecting positions in subjects like Sanskrit, geography, and sociology. Many of these positions, initially marked as vacant, have been abruptly abolished, raising concerns about the education of students in these subjects. The department has notably reduced the number of higher secondary and high school Sanskrit teacher positions to zero, leading to a declaration of surplus for many teachers. The impact of these changes is particularly evident in schools such as Tara Sevaniya School in Bhopal, where Sandeep Kumar Dubey, a teacher for classes 9 to 12, has been marked as surplus. Similarly, at the Government Girls Senior Secondary School in Katni, the elimination of the senior secondary Sanskrit teacher position has left students in grades 11 and 12 without proper instruction in the subject. This situation is mirrored in geography, where teacher Asma at Lakshmiganj School faces a similar fate, with her position also marked as zero. The reduction of positions for these subjects during the surplus counselling process has raised alarms among educators and parents alike. The decision to declare these teaching positions surplus is seen as a threat to the continuity and quality of education for students studying Sanskrit and geography. The department is currently working on updating the portal to reflect accurate information regarding teacher positions. This situation highlights the broader issues within the education system in Madhya Pradesh, where administrative decisions can significantly impact the availability of qualified teachers and the educational experience of students. The future of these subjects in schools remains uncertain as the counselling process unfolds.