Celebrating a report submitted on appointment of guest teachers in Delhi Government schools, the Aam Aadmi Party stated that the DoE investigation committee has given a Certificate of Honesty to the CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal-led government. The committee was tasked by the Delhi LG to investigate the hiring of guest teachers in Delhi, claiming that there were fake appointments made through the system. The report has put on record that the Delhi government hired guest teachers with full transparency and accountability. The report has made it clear that CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal and former education minister Shri Manish Sisodia are completely honest, while the Lieutenant Governor (LG) has been lying about fake appointments being made in the name of guest teachers in schools. Explaining the controversy, AAP Senior Leader and MLA Ms Atishi said that the the committee’s investigation has revealed that there is not a single ‘ghost teacher’ in Delhi government schools. Welcoming the report, she said, “The committee has made it clear in the investigation report that government schools are working in a very efficient and transparent manner.”
Ms Atishi further added, “It is clear from the report of the committee that the LG only wants to stop the works of the Kejriwal government. The LG should give up his habit of forming committees daily and let the government serve the public in peace.” The committee’s report is a significant vindication of the Delhi government’s efforts to reform the education system in the city. It highlights the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability and its determination to provide quality education to all.
Addressing a press conference on the issue, Ms Atishi said that the inquiry committee, set up by the LG himself, found that there is not a single “ghost teacher” in Delhi’s public schools. Delhi Lieutenant Governor Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena had made a statement in September 2022 claiming that there are “ghost teachers” rather than guest teachers in Delhi’s government schools. He had accused guest teachers of having been given fake appointments, but they are not present, and in their place, ghost employees are being paid salaries.
Because of the LG’s orders, an inquiry committee was immediately set up, including officers from every education district in Delhi, to investigate the alleged irregularities in the engagement of guest teachers in state government schools and embezzlement of funds through payment of salaries to ‘ghost’ teachers. There are over 16,000 guest teachers currently teaching in government schools across Delhi. The officials conducted a thorough re-verification process, which included reviewing all 16,000 guest teachers’ documents, attendance records, and daily teaching timetables. The investigation revealed that all of the guest teachers had been physically attending the schools, and teaching regularly, with their attendance has been registered online on a daily basis.
She said to the Delhi LG, “Today your inquiry committee itself has given a clean chit to the Delhi government and Shri Arvind Kejriwal and proved that their work has been nothing short of excellent and transparent.” According to Ms Atishi, the inquiry committee has verified that Shri Arvind Kejriwal and Shri Manish Sisodia have been working transparently and systematically to improve the education system in Delhi. The committee found that the attendance of all 16,000 guest teachers is marked online and tracked on a daily basis.
She asked the people of Delhi, “Consider how much time it would have taken how many officers to re-verify all of the papers of 16000 teachers. What purpose did it serve?” Ms Atishi criticised LG VK Saxena for allegedly obstructing the work of the AAP government and wasting time and resources on his own political agenda of re-verifying the records of 16,000 teachers.
Ms Atishi requested the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi refrain from obstructing the work of the AAP government by continuously filing complaints with government agencies such as the CBI, ED, and Vigilance Department and by forming inquiry committees. She urged Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena to fulfil his responsibility as the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, allow the work of the people of Delhi to proceed without any further hindrance, and stop blocking progress by constantly interfering in the functioning of the government.
