Bihar: Jehnabad DEO’s circular about leave draws flak

PATNA: A circular issued by the Jehanabad district education officer refraining teachers from availing any leave on Wednesdays and Thursdays has stirred up a hornet’s nest in the teaching community of the state.
Taking strong exceptions to the circular issued by DEO Roshan Ara, the representatives of primary and secondary teachers of the state have demanded its immediate withdrawal, failing which the teachers would resort to direct action.
The DEO’s circular states that as the schools of the district are inspected by district level officials on every Wednesday and Thursday, teachers are supposed to remain present in the schools at the time of inspection. However, it has been seen for some time that most teachers proceed on casual leave or special leave (meant for women) on both days. Consequently, the desired progress report of the schools is not received by the inspecting officials in the absence of teachers.
The Bihar State Primary Teachers’ Association, at a meeting under its working president Manoj Kumar on Sunday, demanded its immediate withdrawal. “In case of emergency, teachers can’t wait to seek permission from the DEO for going on a day’s CL or special leave,” the association observed.