Govt school teachers asked to avoid taking more than 2 CLS in November, December

LUDHIANA: THE Punjab education department has directed government school teachers to avoid availing casual leave (CL) for more than two days in November and December. The department wants to ensure that studies are not hit just three months ahead of final exams. The letter has been issued by the school education secretary Krishan Kumar.

“Usually, teachers are seen accumulating this leave for use in these two months due to which students’ studies are affected,” reads the letter.

Earlier, teachers were allowed three CLS in December and there was no ceiling for November. A woman teacher can avail a maximum of 20 CLS in year. For male teachers, the number of CLS allowed is based on the length of service, with only those with more than 20 years of work allowed 20 CLS.

TEACHER UNIONS IRKED

Meanwhile, teachers unions have criticised the move. Hardev Singh Mullanpur, district president of Democratic Teachers’ Front, Punjab, said, “This directive is a violation of the Punjab Civil Services Rules as there is no mention in the rule book as to how many leaves teachers can avail month wise. The authorities must have asked the school principals to handle the situation and sanction leave on rotation basis.”

A school teacher, requesting anonymity, said, “My brother is getting married in Bangalore on December 18 and I have made the bookings. I will be availing oneweek leave. I have asked another teacher to take my classes for a week and once I am back to school, she can avail leave.”

Hakam Singh, president, Government School Lecturer Union, Punjab, also said, “It is the responsibility of the principal to manage the situation in these two months and sanction leave to teachers so that the student’s studies are not affected. Asking teachers to avoid taking more than two CLS in November and December is not a right decision as many of them have already planned family functions in these months.”

› Usually, teachers are seen accumulating casual leaves for use in these two months due to which studies are affected and students suffer. KRISHAN KUMAR, secretary, school education

› The directive violates Punjab Civil Services Rules as there is no mention in the rule book on number of leaves teachers can avail month wise.

HS MULLANPUR, district president, Democratic Teachers’ Front, Punjab