No classes, but govt ‘quarantines’ teachers in schools

In an unusual move, the government has ordered teachers in its more than 1,000 single-teacher schools to attend work despite the absence of students. Similarly, more than 10,000 government primary schools, managed by two teachers, will also be experiencing the same situation.

Teachers say the Government Order is devoid of any logic as the presence of teachers in empty classrooms would serve no purpose as the schools have been ordered shut to prevent the spread of the deadly virus.

Accordingly, these teachers will not only be greeted by empty benches but also find it extremely hard to kill time in the absence of students. Sources with the School Education Department said over 1,000 government schools, handled by single teachers, were located mostly in rural areas of the State.

A senior official from the Directorate of School Education told DT Next that teachers were asked to come to the schools to undertake works related to the coming academic year. “Works include updating Education Management Information System (EMIS), preparing a timetable for the students and taking care of new admissions,” he added.

The official also pointed out that teachers from Class-1 to Class-12 will have to undergo training in English speaking during the last week of this month. “All the teachers were asked to sign their attendance without fail,” he said.

Opposing the government’s decision to engage teachers during holidays, especially when coronavirus is threatening the region, Tamil Nadu Teachers’ Association president PK Ilamaran said, “This could create severe stress and fear among the teachers who manage a single school. Sitting and working alone in a building without students at a time when there is so much of news spreading on the coronavirus is scary.”

Claiming that teachers should also require safety in the wake of coronavirus threat, Illamaran said the government should also declare holiday for teachers considering their situation.

He also said after declaring holiday for the teachers, the government should immediately take steps to clean and sanitise all the State-run schools.