Nagpur: HM body hails nod to 50% staff in schools

NAGPUR: State government has allowed schools to call up to 50% of their teaching/non-teaching staff to campus from October 15. Staff duty can be for online teaching, tele-counselling or any other related work.
In Nagpur district, a majority of the schools come under the private aided category and are affiliated to state board. Headmasters Association (HA), which represents principals from such schools welcomed the decision.
Its president Madhusudhan Mude said, “Extremely happy that the government has allowed us to increase staffing level. We were facing issues because if teachers are working from home, coordination becomes difficult. Also there are obviously too many distractions at home that prevent a teacher from giving their 100%.”
He added that those who reporting to school have shown significant increase in productivity. “Doubts get clarified immediately with peers and that helps them perform better,” said Mude.
CBSE schools’ Nagpur Sahodaya Association chairperson Reena Dargan said the decision will have to be customized by schools. “There are some schools who have a well-oiled online teaching system in place. There won’t be any point for them to recall staff back to campus. Then there is the issue of schools outside the city limits that will have to bear cost of transportation at a time when school fees are not coming in,” said Dargan.
A private school teacher, who did not wish to be identified, felt this decision may end up being a disciplinary wand in management’s hand. “There is absolutely no need of 50% staff to be present in school. But now management will purposely call teachers and given them some work even though it can be done from home. Many principals are old school, prefer to see their staff in front of their eyes,” she said.
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