Editor,

We would like to humbly place before the education minister a simple but deeply painful question: What is our fault?

Why are directions reportedly being issued to the DDSEs for immediate release of teachers before 29/09/2026, even though the genuine representations submitted by affected teachers seeking exemption from transfer have not yet been properly considered or disposed of?

Many of us have genuine and documented grounds for exemption, including non-completion of the mandatory posting tenure, census duty, BLO duty, being on the verge of retirement, and certain ISSE teachers. If our representations have not yet been decided, why are we being compelled to move before knowing the outcome of our own cases?

Have we committed any crime that we are being made to suffer in this manner?

If the objective of rationalisation is to ensure an equitable distribution of teachers, then the same standard should be applied uniformly to everyone. What about those teachers who, as reported by the affected teachers, have never served in other districts and have remained in the same relatively comfortable postings for decades?

On the other hand, many of us have already served in hard and difficult areas, yet we are once again facing transfer in the name of hard-posting rationalisation.

This naturally raises a painful question: Is the same yardstick being applied to everyone, or are some teachers being treated differently?

We feel that we have become scapegoats in this process. Despite possessing documentary evidence supporting our genuine claims for exemption, we remain uncertain about our future.

Is this what justice looks like?

A teacher who has sincerely served in difficult areas, performed assigned duties and submitted a genuine representation, should at least be given an opportunity for his or her case to be properly examined and decided before being compelled to move.

The Education Department is like a parent to its teaching community. How can a parent remain insensitive to the genuine difficulties of its own children?

We submitted our representations with faith that they would be heard and decided fairly. However, with no clear outcome communicated to us, many genuinely affected teachers are gradually losing their faith, confidence and hope in the system.

The education minister has repeatedly spoken about strengthening and improving the education system. We sincerely hope that the present situation will also receive his attention, because all does not appear to be well when genuine representations remain unresolved while affected teachers face forced release.

If genuine grounds for exemption are not given due consideration, it may also demoralise teachers who have sincerely served in hard and difficult areas. Such a situation could leave hardworking teachers wondering whether their years of service in difficult locations and their genuine circumstances are being adequately recognised.

We therefore make a humble but heartfelt appeal: Please hear us before you release us. Examine our representations before enforcing the consequences.

We are not asking for favour - we are asking for fairness.

Genuinely rationalisation transfer-affected teachers