Deputation scrapped, teachers to return to school of posting

CHANDIGARH: Punjab education minister Aruna Chaudhary on Tuesday cancelled with immediate effect deputation orders of any teacher or other employee in any school of the state, keeping in view the need for proper utilisation of staff in government schools and the interests of the student community.

A press release issued by the government said the interim arrangements of teachers performing duties on deputation were “causing havoc to the future of the students from academic point of view” and that the serious issue needed to be addressed.

Chaudhary further said that all the district education officers (DEOs) have been directed to cancel the deputations of teachers in their respective districts and send them to the school where he/she was originally posted. The school head would be held responsible for any negligence in this regard.

She also made it clear that if in future a teacher is to be assigned extra duty or sent on deputation taking into consideration the studies of the students, then this would require the permission of the concerned director of public instructions (DPI).

Punjab Government School Teachers’ Union general secretary Balkar Valtoha welcomed the state government’s decision. “There is a huge imbalance in deployment of teachers. The problem is more severe in rural schools,” he said.

Valtoha said there were two types of deputation: those working on deputation in other schools and another lot working in offices of district education officers on verbal orders. “They should work at schools of their postings and teach. Teachers should not do any other work,” he said.