The directive of the District Magistrate (DM) of Dehardun to the Patwaris of Kalsi and Chakrata blocks of district to take attendance of the Government teachers has irked the teaching fraternity of State.
The DM, Ravi Nath Raman had made this announcement during the Tehsil Day programe at Kalsi on July 5 when many people complained that teachers are either absconding or are attending schools for short duration. As per the DM’s directive the Patwaris would send a daily report of teachers attendance in the areas of their jurisdiction to the Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM).
The teachers are terming this development as their insult as Patwaris are much junior to them in Government hierarchy.
Different teacher organisations have voiced their anger over the development with Rajkeeya Shikshak Sangh (RSS) the association of Government school lecturers deciding to take the issue with the State Education Minister Mantri Prasad Naithani on July 11.
The president of the RSS, Ram Singh Chauhan said that the order of the DM is nothing but an insult of teachers. He said that the organisation would take up the matter to the highest quarter as it is associated with dignity of teachers and their profession.
The teachers of the Charata and Kalsi blocks (Jaunsar Bhawar area) are an agitated lot and have vowed to oppose the system when it is enforced. “Have you ever heard a junior taking attendance and dictating terms on seniorIJ It should be the other way round and teachers should be entrusted to keep tab on activities of these patwaris because apart from being seniors they are much more educationally qualified then Patwaris,’’ said one of an agitated teachers.
The teachers are of the view that if the administration wants to keep a tab on the activities of teachers then it should rely on the internal structure of department which has Chief Education Officer (CEO), District Education Officers (DEO), Block Education Officers (BEO) and block and cluster resource persons.