Class 9 Dropout Rinku Singh Becomes Education Officer in UP; Sparks Meme Fest

Class 9 Dropout Rinku Singh Becomes Education Officer in UP; Sparks Meme Fest Newspoint | 02/07/2025 00:39:15

India is a country where millions of educated youth toil hard for years to crack competitive exams and land a government job. For many, it’s their lifelong dream. An avenue to help their whole family escape poverty. More people fail in their attempts than those who succeed.

Naturally, when news broke that cricketer Rinku Singh, a Class 9 dropout, had been appointed as a Basic Education Officer (BSA), it caused massive outrage.

Rinku Singh’s government appointment comes shortly after he got engaged to Samajwadi Party Member of Parliament Priya Saroj in Lucknow. According to media reports, the left-handed batter is one of seven athletes selected for the role under sports quota, after a thorough vetting process.

The Aligarh-born cricketer will supervise primary government schools up to Class 5. He will also oversee the work of block education officers and teacher evaluation in his district.

Rinku will receive a monthly salary between ₹70,000 and 90,000, along with other benefits such as a house, HRA, and medical benefits.

Unusually, this role requires at least a bachelor's degree, but the 27-year-old, who had not even completed his formal schooling, was selected for the coveted role based on the gold medal he won at the 2023 Asian Games.

This move is part of the UP government's International Medal Winner Direct Recruitment Rules 2022, which allows athletes like Rinku to skip conventional qualifications for high-profile government jobs.

While the intention may be to salute national heroes who brought laurels to the country, the irony here is too glaring to be overlooked: a school dropout is being given the keys to the very system he dropped out of.

Rinku Singh's rags-to-riches story, of going from humble origins to stardom in cricket, is undoubtedly motivational. Through sheer hard work, he has made a name for himself, first earning a lucrative IPL contract and then representing Team India.

But does excellence in sport make one qualified to supervise the education of thousands of schoolchildren? That's the question plaguing Indians today.

Rinku Singh 's first Day In the Office pic.twitter.com/pnA4W6jrmZ
— SarcasmHit (@SarcasmHit) June 30, 2025

Rinku Singh Ka office me first Day 😹#RinkuSingh pic.twitter.com/LiuYWGVlU3
— Byomkesh (@byomkesbakshy) June 30, 2025

Rinku Singh...😭 pic.twitter.com/w7cQhyvJZl
— Jo Kar (@i_am_gustakh) June 30, 2025

Fans have flooded social media with scores of memes. While some are making fun of Rinku’s credentials to serve as an education officer through memes, others feel he would have been better served if he had been posted to the sports or youth affairs departments – fields where his experience would have been more beneficial.

Don’t get me wrong. I have nothing against Rinku Singh. His rags-to-riches story has inspired many Indians who come from humble backgrounds and work hard to pull their families out of poverty.

My issue is that this whole episode highlights everything that’s wrong with our society. If we start rewarding fame instead of qualification and sentiment instead of merit, we risk destroying the foundations of our public institutions.

Rinku’s life is a tale of grit and glory. But offering him a job in the education department is not only ironic but deeply troubling.