Education Suffers As Teachers Head For Poll Duty

With the majority of the teachers deputed on poll duty, the trial for which took place on Thursday and Friday, confusion prevailed in several administrative schools in Patiala.

With very few teachers left to take classes, the school heads have been finding it difficult to run the show. As such, they have had either to merge two-three classes to engage all the students or send them back home. A random visit to the city schools showed that most of the students had been sitting idle since there were no teachers. At some places, teachers had combined two-three classes and had engaged the students in chit chat sessions as it was difficult to teach students from different classes together.

A teacher stated that they were powerless as authoritatively they could not ask the pupils to return to their homes.

A principal stated that the district management should have assured that around 50% of the staff was in school to make sure studies were not affected.

“There are several educational institutions where the strength is over 1,500 and there was barely 10 to 20% personnel availability today. These duties will continue tomorrow (May 18) in addition. The administration should rather have announced it a holiday,” he said.

Sources in the Education section stated that there were 6 middle schools in the region, comprising 1 each in Ghagga and Pasiana, where 100% of the personnel was on election duty.

District Education Officer (Secondary) Balbir Kaur Gill stated as the duties were necessary, she had made alternate arrangements to make sure those educational institutions remained open.

“There is staff shortage, but we are trying our best to ensure studies are not affected,” Balbir Kaur Gill added up.

Deputy Commissioner GK Singh stated that there was no option to the extent that deputing teachers on poll duty was concerned. However, he said, he had directed education functionaries to open the schools and connect pupils by organizing contests or seminars.