Disabled teachers exempted from examination duties

Balwant Garg

Tribune News Service

Faridkot, March 17

The Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) has exempted the physically disabled teachers from the evaluation and other duties during the ongoing Class X and XII Board examinations.

A few days ago, over 5,000 physically disabled teachers working with the Education Department under the banner of the Punjab Government (Education Department) Handicapped Employees’ Union had requested the PSEB to exempt them from the examination duty under the Handicapped Act, 1995.

Earlier, the PSEB was sticking to the criteria of giving exemption only to the ‘genuine’ cases, but now in a letter to all District Education Officers (DEOs), the Secretary, PSEB, conveyed that keeping in view the difficulty being faced by these teachers, they all are exempted from the exam duties, including supervisory and evaluation.

Examination duties have been assigned on the basis of online available data on the Education Department’s website, e-Punjab Schools portal so many disabled teachers were also given the examination duty, claimed the PSEB letter.

“Earlier, we had also informed the district-level authorities to reconsider these duties given to the physically disabled teachers, but the matter was not taken seriously,” reads the letter.

In its representation to the PSEB and Education Department, the association of disabled teachers had cited court decisions and directions issued by various government department on such duties.

Earlier, the PSEB had agreed to exempt only those teachers who can’t walk or visually impaired.

The disabled teachers said these exemption orders came late as the Class X and Class XII examinations will end soon.

Teachers had sought relaxation  

• A few days ago, over 5,000 physically disabled teachers working with the Education Department under the banner of the Punjab Government (Education Department) Handicapped Employees' Union had requested the PSEB to exempt them from the examination duty under the Handicapped Act, 1995. 
• Earlier, the PSEB was sticking to the criteria of giving exemption only to the 'genuine' cases, but now in a letter to all District Education Officers (DEOs), the Secretary, PSEB, conveyed that keeping in view the difficulty being faced by these teachers, they all are exempted from the exam duties, including supervisory and evaluation.