Punjab: Government teachers say reporting to duty amid Covid surge unfair

LUDHIANA: Upset with the government for asking them to report to duty when the schools and colleges across the state had been closed in the wake of massive Covid surge, teachers in government schools have written to the state and district officials, stating that the decision has put their lives at stake.
In their letter, a government teachers’ union said, “We have been forced to attend online meetings on Sundays as well, which is our weekly off. Besides, we are working overtime in enrolment drives in this pandemic. With Covid-19 on the rise, our own lives and those of the family members are at stake. Therefore,teachers should be excused from attending schools when Covid is at its peak. The situation is such that the government has imposed a lockdown or stricter curbs in several areas. However, teachers are supposed to come. Most of them travel via buses and other public transport, making them an easy target to catch the virus and spread it further.”
Union president Jagjeet Singh Mann said, “Many teachers visit government schools for non-academic work. Considering that the government has restricted gatherings in marriages and cremation grounds, the education department can work out on a number of staff which should be present in the premises at one point of time.”
Deputy commissioner Varinder Sharma said, “All educational institutions, schools and colleges to remain closed, but the teaching and non teaching staff of government schools will have to report to duty. Violations should be reported to commissioner of police and government staff can be assigned Covid-19 duty.”