7 teachers in 3 govt schools fined for not wearing masks; association slams action

At least seven teachers in three government schools in Najafgarh were fined last week for allegedly not wearing masks while taking classes, as mandated by the state government’s Covid-19 norms for in-person sessions. However, the government schoolteachers’ body hit out at the action and defended the penalised teachers, saying it is not possible to talk “for hours end” with masks on.

According to the association, a team from the Delhi government’s revenue department

NEW DELHI:

visited three all-girls government schools in Najafgarh last week and allegedly disrupted the classes.

“They fine at least seven teaches and fined them ₹2,000 each for not wearing masks. While some of them were taking classes maintaining the required social distance, some were eating when the team visited. It is not possible for teachers to talk for hours with their face masks on while taking the classes. We made them understand but they did not listen,” said CP Singh, president of the association.

The association also wrote to the Delhi government’s education department.

Krishan Phogat, a member of the teachers’ association, said, “We generally don’t have microphones and speakers in classes like private schools do, so the teachers need to speak louder while taking classes. It’s so difficult to do that with masks. And when the students are already maintaining social distance, why harass teachers like that? It’s so demoralising for teachers who have been working both in schools and participating in Covid-19 related duties for the last 11 months.”

Several teachers also raised concerns over the incident. “If it has happened in three schools, it can happen with any of us. A teacher who was fined for not wearing a mask was eating in an empty room. This harassment is unacceptable,” said a teacher employed with a government school in Subhash Nagar, who asked not to be named.

A senior official from the Directorate of Education (DOE), said, “We have received a complaint from government schools teachers’ association and are looking into it.”

Delhi government spokespersons did not respond despite several calls and text messages requesting comment.