Sulking teacher skips award function

Divya Sharma

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 13

Kanwaljit Kaur, a teacher at Government High School for Girls, Chhajalwaddi, refused to collect her appreciation letter at the Teachers' Award function held at Jandiala Guru on Friday.

Around 3,000 educators, including teachers and principals of various government schools, were given appreciation letters by School Education Minister Vijay Inder Singh Singla. The teachers were praised for their role in creation of self-made smart schools and efforts to ensure 100 per cent PSEB results.

Kanwaljit Kaur had expressed disapproval on September 12 that went viral on social media. In her letter, she spoke about callous attitude of officials towards teachers, unnecessary pay cut in name of new policies, insensitive treatment towards protesting teachers, far-flung postings and lack of basic amenities in schools.

“I chose to stay in the school. My real reward is being with my students. The government is spending huge money on organising such elaborate functions. The same amount could have been used on betterment of our schools. The department is promoting a culture in which teachers are being asked to share smallest of activity for the school, children on WhatsApp,” she said.

DEO (Secondary Education) Salwinder Singh Samra, said, “These are her personal views. The department is not accountable for the same. As many as 3,000 academicians were honoured. They are happy. This is a single case.”