Government Bows to Protests, Announces HTAT Head Teachers’ Transfer Rules: 3 Years Internal, 5 Years Inter-District

Teachers serving as HTAT head teachers across the state reached Gandhinagar on July 16 to address their pending demands. They started a hunger strike at Satyagraha Camp to bring attention to their longstanding demands. Within four days of the protest, the state government relented and announced the transfer rules for HTAT head teachers.

New Cadre for HTAT Head Teachers

The Education Department’s resolution dated 22/06/2011 established a new cadre for HTAT head teachers under the RTE ACT 2009. Subsequently, on 15/03/2021, the cadre was designated as an educational cadre by the Education Department. The head teachers demanded that they should not be subject to the administrative staff transfer principles. The government actively considered this issue and, after a necessary study, announced the transfer rules for HTAT head teachers today.

Method for Calculating Eligibility

1. Eligibility Criteria:
   • For classes from Kindergarten to 5th grade with 150 or more students, 1 head teacher is eligible.
   • For classes from 6th to 8th grade with 900 or more students, 1 head teacher is eligible.
   • For classes from Kindergarten to 8th grade with 150 or more students, 1 head teacher is eligible.
2. Intra-District Transfers:
   • A head teacher must have completed at least 3 years at their current school.
3. Inter-District Transfers:
   • A head teacher must have completed at least 5 years in their current district. 50% of positions will be filled based on seniority and 50% based on merit.
4. Special Transfer Cases:
   • Transfers for medical reasons, transfers of head teachers who are spouses of officers or employees under national or state security, and transfers of head teachers who are spouses of non-transferable officers or employees at the state headquarters.
5. Annual Review:
   • The education department will determine the required number of head teachers each year.
6. Vacancies and Adjustments:
   • If the required number is not maintained, head teachers will be placed in vacant positions at the pay centers, then in the approved vacancies in the taluka, and finally in the approved vacancies in the district.

District and Intra-District Transfers

• Any head teacher appointed by promotion or direct recruitment can be transferred.
• The maximum age for head teachers for internal and inter-district transfers should not exceed 56 years and 55 years, respectively.

Protest on July 16 in Gandhinagar

On July 16, 2024, teachers serving as HTAT head teachers across the state reached Gandhinagar with their pending demands. They started a hunger strike at Satyagraha Camp to address their longstanding demands, including the announcement of transfer rules for HTAT head teachers and the provision of one HTAT head teacher in schools with 150 students from Kindergarten to 8th grade.

Teachers’ Demands

During the protest, teachers demanded that despite the cadre existing since 2012, there were no rules for transfers. They were not receiving grade pay, had a heavy workload without additional benefits, and faced family issues due to working away from home. A committee was formed, and the proposal for amendments to the rules was sent for approval, but no action had been taken.

Continued Protest Despite Education Minister’s Appeal

When the HTAT head teachers announced their protest, Education Minister Kuber Dindor appealed to the HTAT teachers through social media to postpone the protest. The Education Minister tweeted that the process of preparing the transfer rules was in its final stages and would be announced soon, requesting the head teachers to call off the hunger strike. However, despite the appeal, the HTAT head teachers continued their hunger strike in Gandhinagar.