The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is once again drawing criticism for its decision to involve private security and detective agencies in the recruitment of guest teachers for its schools. This move comes despite previous disapproval from Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.
The BBMP is reconsidering three private security agencies for teacher hiring this academic year: Appu Detective and Security Services for the south zone and RR Nagar, Detectwell Security Services Private Limited for the east zone, and Sharp Watch Investigating Security Services Private Limited. No new tenders have been issued.
BJP MLA Suresh Kumar criticized the decision, questioning why security agencies are being involved in teacher recruitment. Despite his previous efforts to address this issue, the decision has resurfaced, raising concerns about the rationale behind it.
Last year, Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar, also Bengaluru’s development minister, voiced dissatisfaction with the BBMP’s approach, emphasizing the importance of employing individuals with expertise in education to enhance the quality of teaching in BBMP schools. Assurances were made by Shivakumar and BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath that teachers would be hired directly by the education department for the upcoming academic year, 2024-25.
As BBMP schools prepare to reopen on May 29, apprehension looms among outsourced teachers, who constitute the majority of the teaching staff. With only 20% of teachers being permanent employees, over 700 teachers are currently employed on contract across various levels of education within BBMP schools.
