by Avijit Biswas
Bhagalpur: The leave policy concerning teachers of government school in this division has been made stricter. In normal situation henceforth not more than 10% of total strength of teachers can be allowed leave in any school by authority. A decision to this effect was taken in divisional level meeting of education department officials chaired by Dayanidhan Pandey, divisional commissioner.
The meeting in which education department officials of both Banka and this district were present had been convened this week to review progress of different projects and programmes of education department. Decision was taken to make leave policy stricter following review of inspection report of schools submitted by officials.
It was found despite low strength of teachers more than one teacher is allowed leave by school authorities. In such situation students of different classes need to be engaged at a time by same teacher. The quality of education being imparted in school is adversely affected in such condition, the authorities present in meeting felt.
Taking note of the problem it was further decided in schools having five teachers or less the concerned principals would sanction leave only after approval of leave request by block development officer.
In anticipation of approval of their leave request teachers of government schools in division henceforth would also not be able to proceed on leave by keeping leave application in attendance register or by sending leave application to school authorities through messenger or any other means.
In normal situation a teacher will have to submit his or her leave application three days before the date of leave. The concerned school authority will have to take decision on approval of leave request two days before date of leave. For monitoring attendance of teachers a Whats App number has been issued at divisional level.
The guardian of students would be able to give intimation about absence of teachers in school on the Whats App number. Following review of inspection reports, the meeting found attendance of students in schools of both Banka and Bhagalpur districts was not satisfactory.
Meanwhile teacher association has strongly resented against changes made in leave policy. In press note issued by Viveka Nand Singh, president of TET STET Passed Employed Teachers Association it has been stated that against leave policy changes and directive to send attendance through selfie by 9.05 AM on working days, the state authorities of department are being sent e-mail by aggrieved teachers.
Singh has stated in press note that essentiality of submitting application of casual leave three days beforehand is no way a practical directive. He has further stated as per previous guidelines 50% teachers of total strength of teachers can remain on leave on a particular day. Hence restriction on approval of leave request of more than 10% teachers of total strength of teachers is unwarranted, Singh has added.
Meanwhile following change in leave policy in some schools teachers as per information have requested for leave three days beforehand intimating that they would be ill on day they want to avail leave.
