A day after the Haryana government directed teachers not to carry mobile phones to classrooms, the Haryana Vidyalaya Adhyapak Sangh (HVAS) on Friday dismissed the move as a “cosmetic” measure. It also accused the government of “imposing” the decision on the teaching fraternity without prior consultation.
HVAS opposes move
HVAS State president Wazir Singh said government schools in Haryana were dealing with an acute staff shortage and inadequate infrastructure, but the State government seemed more interested in taking “cosmetic” measures than addressing the real issues.
‘Posts lying vacant’
“The government should address the root cause. Cosmetic measures such as banning mobile phones in classrooms are not going to bring about any real change. More than 50,000 posts for teachers are lying vacant across Haryana. Of the total sanctioned strength of 1,350 headmasters, there are only 450 in schools. Similarly, posts of District Education Officers, Block Education Officers and principals are lying vacant,” said Mr. Singh.
‘Dictatorial direction’
He added that the teachers were aware of their responsibility and that there was no need to issue such “dictatorial” directions.
“We understand our responsibility, but the government also has a responsibility. The schools do not have toilets, drinking water and electricity. Several schools in Bhiwani and Mahendragarh do not have drinking water,” said Mr. Singh, adding that the government should have consulted the teachers before imposing the unilateral decision on them.
He said that the final decision on the matter would be taken during a two-day meeting of teachers in Rohtak this weekend.
Ramesh Malik, another teacher, argued that if the government was serious about education at government schools, it should not engage teachers for non-teaching work such as conducting surveys.
Difficult to implement
According to Suresh Kumar, a teacher from Jind, it is difficult to implement such decisions on the ground.
“Most of these decisions remain on paper and it becomes very difficult to implement them,” he said.
As per the latest guidelines issued by Haryana’s Education Department to curb the use of mobile phones in schools, no teacher is allowed to take mobile phones to the classroom. It shall be kept stashed away in the staff room or in an area ear-marked by the head of school.
Prior permission needed
If for some unavoidable reasons, a mobile phone is required to be taken to the classroom for academic use, prior permission should be taken from the head of the school, reasons for which must be recorded in a register maintained for the purpose.