In a significant administrative shuffle just weeks before crucial examinations, the Rajasthan education department has transferred over 412 principals of government schools across the state in a single day. The move, executed on Tuesday, comes precisely one month before board exams are scheduled to commence in state-run schools.
Four Transfer Lists Issued in Rapid Succession
The department released a total of four separate transfer lists throughout Tuesday. The first list involved 39 principals, followed by a second list affecting 78 more. By evening, two additional lists were issued, one transferring a substantial batch of 234 principals and another moving 61 principals.
This large-scale transfer comes after a previous round of reassignments conducted two months ago, many of which were later cancelled following interventions and recommendations from higher authorities within the department.
Paving Way for Promoted Vice-Principals' Posting
According to teachers' representatives, this sudden flurry of transfers is directly linked to resolving a long-pending staffing issue. It is expected to clear the logjam for the counselling process of approximately 3,800 principals who were promoted from the post of vice-principal last year.
Vipin Prakash Sharma, the state president of the Rajasthan Primary and Secondary Teachers' Association, explained the rationale. "The counselling process for the final posting of these 3,800 promoted principals has been rescheduled four times in the past six months," he stated. "With these transfers now being executed, the actual number of vacant posts for principals will become clear. This will allow the crucial counselling process to finally begin, potentially within the next week."
Timing Raises Eyebrows Amid Exam Preparations
The timing of this massive administrative exercise, occurring merely a month before the start of the state board examinations, has drawn attention. The stability of school leadership is often considered vital during the critical exam preparation period for students.
The education department's move, while aimed at streamlining administrative placements, now places the onus on the newly transferred principals to quickly adapt to their new schools and ensure a smooth conduct of the upcoming board exams.
