Circular asking teachers to attend colleges draws flak

Dharwad: A circular issued by the department of collegiate education on May 3 directing teachers and non-teaching staff of government and private aided degree colleges to attend their respective institutions from May 4 has drawn flak from various quarters.
The circular was issued despite the state government and the respective district administrations, besides the universities, already issuing directives that all the educational institutions shall remain closed till May 17 as the lockdown has been extended till that date. Hence the circular of the collegiate education department, which reached the teachers and non-teaching staff on the night of May 3, evoked sharp response from teachers’ associations and legislators.
The circular said the colleges in red zone shall have all the employees of group A and B and 33% of group C and D present in the college from May 4. It said the college authorities will decide who among the group C and D employees will have to come.
For colleges in yellow, orange and green zones, the department mandated that all the teaching and non-teaching employees shall attend the college from May 4.
Terming the circular as ridiculous, MLA and former minister for primary and secondary education Basavaraj Horatti said the director had sent the circular without examining the prevailing situation and the consequences. “Due to lockdown, many teachers are stuck in towns and cities away from their working place. Universities and the district administrations have ordered total closure of all educational institutions. There is no public transport operating in the state,” he said. He has also written a letter to the director of collegiate education to withdraw the circular.
The principal of a private aided college said the university and the district administration have ordered closure of the colleges till May 17 and he will abide by these orders.