Dimapur, May 14 (MExN): The All Nagaland State Teachers’ Association today stated that the teachers should be exempted from the forthcoming bye-election duty and let them do the school works in the larger academic interest of the students.
This is in line with the Supreme Court order which clearly stated that teachers cannot be forced to do non-teaching jobs during teaching days and within teaching hours, maintained a press release issued by ANSTA President Ponchulo Wanth and General Secretary Visato Koso.
Justifying the same, it asserted that by the nature of their duties, the teachers are time bound “to teach the students and complete the content syllabus within the stipulated time frame.”
“As per the scheme of work, the whole syllabi of the students of a year has been equally divided into 3/4 parts which has to be completed within the appointed time,” it said.
Thus, the Association stated that the engagement of teachers for “other non-teaching activities during teaching hours” will result in the students appearing their exam without covering the syllabus.
“It is indeed a crime as far as quality education and students’ academic interest is concerned,” it added.
“The students have right to appear their exams only after the course is well completed, if necessary revision of course has to be done before the exam.” In this connection, it pointed out that majority of government teachers have been engaged for the forthcoming Lok Sabha bye-election leaving many schools without the teachers. If the teachers are not exempted from the duty, it will compel many government schools to conduct the 1st Terminal Exam without covering the syllabus making the students-the ultimate sufferers, ANSTA maintained.
Thus, it called for the exemption of the teachers from the election duties.
