Says his recent directions are cruel and raise question on their integrity

Mohit Khanna

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 24

The Government School Teachers’ Union has raised objection to Punjab School Education Broad (PSEB) Chairman Balbir Singh Dhol’s statement, where he had yesterday remarked that examination observers will be told about their place of duties three hours before the examination.

Dhol had also stated that no medical leave would be allowed to teachers during the examinations.

In another such statement, Dhol had claimed that teachers would have to take permission from Director of Public Instruction (DPI) for pursuing higher education. Earlier, the school principal used to sanction authority to pursue higher education.

Parveen Kumar, press secretary of the union, said Balkar Singh Valtoha, general secretary of the teachers’ association, conducted a meeting at Issru Bhawan near the bus stand and teachers lambasted the recent directions of the PSEB Chairman, saying that his order brands government teachers in bad light.

“The recent directions are cruel on teachers and raise question on the integrity of government school teachers. Just imagine if a teacher living in Ludhiana city is asked to perform duty in Khanna town (40-km away) merely three hours before the examination. It means the teacher will have to be ready at around 6 am in the morning,” said Parveen Kumar.

The union demanded that such orders be reverted at the earliest and teachers be allowed to do the duty near their house.

He said teachers should also be allowed to take medical leave. Parveen Kumar said the union would hold a meeting with the DIP, Secondary, on February 27 to discuss these issues.

The Government School Teachers’ Union Punjab and Punjab Subordinate Service Federation have supported the Punjab Government Contractual Employees’ Action Committee’s move of going on hunger strike on February 28 to seek regularisation.