THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has issued an order to transfer teachers with specialisation in hearing impairment from the Government Blind School (GBS), Vazhuthacaud. While the order says that it is a grave child rights violation to allow teachers without proper specialisation to teach children with visual impairment, it is mum about the fate of the three teachers who have been serving the school since 2009.
The commission was responding to a complaint by Satish S, a PSC ranklist holder with specialisation in visual impairment. Hundreds of aspirants with the same specialisation like him had appeared for a PSC test recruiting teachers for visual impairment.
However, the teachers, who had been transferred from Government VHSS for the Deaf, Jagathy, despite not having any formal certificate in braille, had learnt it. They have also completed a National Association for the Blind certificate course in mobility training.
While they too would like to be posted in a school where their specialisation in hearing impairment comes in handy, they are disappointed that their efforts have not been valued. “A proper investigation would have revealed how the students we teach are faring,” says Lathi Vinsla, one of the three teachers.
Another teacher, Reji Cherian Mathew, said, “We have not challenged the order. We will welcome whatever decision the DPI takes regarding our fate.” He had submitted a representation to the then DPI and Department of General Education Secretary in 2009 seeking that they be transferred to a school where they can teach children with hearing impairment.
In 2009, five teachers were transferred from Government VHSS for the Deaf, Jagathy, as the strength at their school had dwindled and GBS had unfilled vacancies. Two of the teachers could go back to the school for the hearing impaired, because of retirement vacancies.
GBS Headmaster Thulasidharan said that while the teachers should be protected, the children should get teachers with proper specialisation. He said that for the 26 children, there were five permanent teachers, including the three teachers with specialisation in hearing impairment. In addition, there was a Hindi teacher, a PT teacher, a music teacher, a craft teacher and a braillist, he said.
GBS is not the only school where teachers will be transferred. In the order, the commission notes that SMV Government Higher Secondary School and a school in Kundamkulam, Thrissur, where teachers with hearing impairment were posted, should immediately transfer those teachers.
The order dated July 27 instructs DPI and Secretary, Department of General Education, to take necessary action within 30 days. However, the DPI, M S Jaya, who took charge only two weeks ago, said that she was not aware of the order. ADPI Johns V John also said that he was still to hear about the order, as another section handles cases related to special schools.
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