Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Times of India
The Times of India
National
TNN

Guest teachers told not needed during summer holidays, row erupts

NEW DELHI: A directorate of education (DoE) order for the discontinuation of service of guest teachers during summer vacations has prompted several of them to argue that the annual order leaves many of them unemployed for two months.

In the May 11 order, DoE said the guest teachers’ service would be discontinued during the summer vacation till June 30, but “heads of schools are authorised to engage guest teachers as per administrative requirement for school-related work — admissions, examinations, etc”. It added that the heads of government schools might also engage them for summer camps under Mission Buniyaad.

Stating that activities like Mission Buniyaad, remedial classes and examination duties are already on, guest teachers said the annual order would leave many of them without any income for two months. Delhi government schools currently have approximately 22,000 guest teachers.

Shoaib Rana, general secretary of All India Guest Teachers’ Association, said, “Many activities are happening in schools right now and what is the point of discontinuing the service? Not all teachers will check papers or have examination duties. An order like this creates a lot of mental pressure.” He added that a few schools had already discontinued them.

“The salary bracket for guest teachers has not increased for the past five years and such disruptions can create a lot of hassle.”

He alleged that “in several instances, some guest teachers may be preferred over others when the decision is left entirely to the head of a school”. For several activities, mostly guest teachers are engaged, Rana said, wondering “how much money the government will save by not paying guest teachers for two months”.

DoE didn’t comment about guest teachers’ objections.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.