Chandigarh: The Punjab Government has asked Deputy Commissioners across the state to ensure that school teachers and lecturers are not routinely assigned administrative or other non-teaching responsibilities.
The School Education Department issued the directions through a memorandum dated September 18, stating that teachers had been called upon by district and sub-divisional authorities for different assignments outside their regular academic duties. In some instances, such deployments continued for extended periods, the department said.
According to the government, prolonged diversion of teachers from schools can disrupt classroom teaching, affect academic continuity and have an impact on students’ learning.
Teachers Asked To Return To Schools After SIR Duties
The department has specifically taken note of the role played by teachers in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
A significant number of teachers were deployed for the exercise and have already completed substantial responsibilities, the department said. Since the current SIR process is scheduled to end on September 30, authorities have been asked to reduce teacher deployment once their election-related responsibilities are no longer required.
The government has said teachers should be allowed to return to their regular academic duties in schools.
Which Duties Can Teachers Be Assigned?
The latest instructions refer to Section 27 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, and relevant court directions.
Under the provisions cited by the department, teachers can be assigned duties outside education only in specified circumstances, including elections, the decennial census and disaster management.
Even in these cases, the government has asked district administrations to limit the use of teaching staff as much as possible. Where arrangements permit, election-related work should preferably be carried out outside teaching hours or on non-teaching days.
Authorities have also been told to use available non-teaching employees for such assignments wherever possible.
No Surveys Or Miscellaneous Duties Without Approval
The department has directed Deputy Commissioners to communicate the instructions to officials working at district and sub-divisional levels.
Teachers should not be requisitioned for surveys, verification drives or miscellaneous administrative activities unless such work falls within the categories allowed under the applicable provisions.
The department has further clarified that any exceptional proposal to use teaching staff for duties outside the permitted categories will require prior approval from the School Education Department.
Focus On Classroom Responsibilities
The latest order places emphasis on ensuring that teachers remain available for their primary responsibility of teaching.
While teachers can continue to be utilised for legally permitted assignments such as elections, census work and disaster management, the department has asked administrations to avoid unnecessary or prolonged deployment.
The government has issued the directions for strict compliance. The implementation of the order at the district level will determine whether teachers see a sustained reduction in administrative assignments and greater availability for classroom teaching.
