Revise school timings: Teachers' union

Abohar, May 5

The Government Teachers’ Union has demanded school hours be revised and only 50 per cent staff be called on a rotation basis due to the Covid pandemic. About a dozen government schoolteachers had tested positive and one of them succumbed to the infection recently.

The positivity rate in the district has crossed 19 per cent. The number of positive cases is increasing but vaccination centres have to be shut twice across the district as the stock has exhausted. The report of swab tests are being given after five to six days, and the infected person in the meantime comes into contact with many others.

The union said the state government had ordered work with 50 per cent of the staff in other departments and private offices, but the entire staff was being told to be present in the schools. As 50-60 teachers were working in senior secondary schools, the risk of spreading the infection was increasing. Even Teachers living in containment zones were also going to schools, the union added.

Union’s district president Bhagwant Bhateja demanded that only half of the staff be called to schools and timing needed to be revised from 9 am to 12 pm to minimize the risk. Children's education is going on online, which the teachers can continue from home. –OC