‘Teachers doing everything except teaching’: Punjab schools go empty as hundreds of teachers put on zila parishad poll duty

This comes barely two months after education minister and senior AAP leader Harjot Singh Bains wrote to the chief secretary asking to “stop deployment of teachers for non-academic works,” saying their presence in classrooms was “non-negotiable.” Pulling them out as an “easily available tail-end workforce,” he said, compromised children’s Right to Education.

On Sunday, minister Bains did not respond to calls or messages.

Dapinder Singh Virk, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Bains told The Indian Express: “Several times we have raised this matter with the district administrations and other departments that teachers should not be put on non-academic duties as they are already overburdened. The minister has also written to the chief secretary previously to raise it. We are not in favor of such duties for our teachers.”

Many of those now on poll duty are already on SIR duty. “Why should we do double election duty including on Sundays,” asked a teacher from Ludhiana.

Several women teachers said the issue was not the duty but the distances they must travel. Even widows with no one to accompany them have been posted far from home. Teachers in Jagraon have been sent to Khanna; those in Khanna to Raikot.

Teachers must report for rehearsals on December 8 and 11, then again on December 13 for dispatch and on December 14 for polling. Many will have to stay overnight.

“Earlier women teachers were at least given duties within their own block but now we have been asked to report 80 km away,” said a teacher from Khanna deputed to Jagraon.A political science lecturer from Ropar, posted nearly 100 km away in Raikot, said: “Has the government made any arrangement for my safety? Will any vehicle drop me home in Morinda on the night of December 14 when work ends after 9 pm? My husband is also on poll duty and cannot pick or drop me. The local administration is not ready to listen to us.”

A widow from Khanna posted in Jagraon said: “My children are abroad. Who will pick or drop me at night? Where will I stay on December 13?”

Thirty-one teachers from Government Senior Secondary School, Basti Jodhewal alone, and 34 from PM-SHRI Government Senior Secondary School, Dehlon, have been deputed.

An English lecturer from Raikot said: “My duty is in Khanna. We are doing everything except teaching. Padhaan taan ditta hi nahi jaanda (We are just not allowed to teach).” Another teacher posted 80 km away in Machhiwara said she is arranging a taxi from her own pocket. “This is punishment in the name of poll duty.”

“School khaali ho gaya hai (Our school has gone empty),” said a teacher from Ludhiana’s Haibowal, posted 60 km away in Malaud. “All teachers including history, Punjabi, commerce, political science and science are on duty.”

Dharamjit Singh, finance secretary, Lecture Cadre Union, said “women staff were being mentally harassed” and that such distant postings were unprecedented.

Punjab, secretary, education Anindita Mitra said: “I have already contacted various district administrations where certain issues have been flagged.” Asked why teachers are still being put on non-academic duties despite the minister’s instructions, she said: “I will not be the right person to comment on it.”