Schoolteachers fail to set example for students

Sources said it was a general practice in rural areas that teachers reached the school at least half-an-hour late.

Many,who reached on time,kept away from the morning assembly on the pretext of extreme weather and health reasons.

“If I request teachers to attend the morning assembly,they say they would fall sick by standing in the open. Though I try to convince them,they remain stubborn,” said the principal of a government school on the condition of anonymity.

Some school teachers,however,think differently.

“Though we reach school on time,local teachers of the village always reach after the first period starts. And many such teachers have now decided to skip the morning assembly,” said a senior school teacher. Unlike teachers,students,most of whom belong to poor families,reach on time despite unfriendly weather conditions.

On the issue of teachers coming late to school,Bachittar Singh,District Education Officer (Secondary),Ludhiana,said,“We inspect some schools daily and act against teachers who either come late or remain absent without informing the headmaster. We will intensify our surprise checking and take action against defaulters. I fully agree that each teacher is supposed to be on time and should attend the morning assembly.”