In a significant move aimed at overhauling the state's education system, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced the appointment of former Director General of Police (DGP) Prashant Kumar as the chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Education Service Selection Commission. The announcement was made on Wednesday during a discussion on the supplementary budget in the state Assembly.
A Strategic Appointment for Transparency
Chief Minister Adityanath stated that this key appointment is designed to infuse the recruitment process for secondary and higher education teachers with transparency and discipline. He emphasized that the decision reflects the government's firm intent to bring administrative integrity and firmness to how educators are selected across the state. The move is seen as a direct effort to restore public trust in the system.
Breaking the Backbone of the 'Education Mafia'
Speaking forcefully in the Assembly, CM Yogi Adityanath declared, "We have now prepared to break the backbone of the education mafia in Uttar Pradesh." He detailed that concrete steps have already been initiated to thoroughly clean up both the teacher recruitment and examination systems. The government's focus, he explained, is on creating a fair, transparent, and merit-based process where irregularities in appointments will not be tolerated.
The Chief Minister highlighted recent successes in curbing malpractices during board examinations through strict surveillance, which he said has significantly reduced cheating. "Due to stringent monitoring, cheating reduced sharply. Those who intended to cheat are now staying away from examinations altogether," he noted. With this progress, the administration's next major target is to eliminate corruption in teacher recruitment.
Part of a Broader Governance Narrative
Political observers interpret the appointment of a former top police officer to head the education recruitment body as a strategic part of the Yogi government's broader governance narrative. This narrative strongly emphasizes law and order, institutional reform, and a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption. By placing Prashant Kumar at the helm, the government signals a no-nonsense approach to enforcing accountability and honesty at every stage of the recruitment process.
The Chief Minister asserted that the system is undergoing comprehensive reforms to ensure these values are upheld. The appointment on Wednesday marks a new chapter in Uttar Pradesh's efforts to professionalize its education sector and ensure that only the most deserving candidates become teachers, shaping the future of the state's youth.
