Agartala, February 13 (TIWN): 1381 teachers remain absent from the school without any proper notice in the three consecutive years. In a written reply against the question raised by opposition MLA, Ratan lal Nath, Education Minister Tapan Chakraborty told that measures were already taken against them. But it is a matter of deep suspense that whether the sketched figure mentioned in the reply is correct or not. Because the quality based education is detoriated day by day in the schools.
It has been observed that the government school teachers posted in schools located in remote and hilly areas usually engage proxy teachers. They do it so that they are free to run some business or work at their preferred place. According to Tripura school education department, around 1,500 government school teachers were either suspended or other action was taken against them last year for neglecting their duties.

 Under the Right to Education Act, 2009, it is mandatory that every child who completes his or her education till standard eight be awarded a certificate as per the education department's format after conducting CCE at regular intervals.

According to the director, in many of the schools he found teachers and non-teaching employees absent during duty hours and was forced to initiate drastic action to restore normality,” said Chakraborty. Speaking of the steps taken to improve the functioning of schools, minister for school education Tapan Chakraborty said a process of regular inspection of school was launched six months ago.

However, Eighteen days of unauthorized leave of teachers had been legalized by the Government by issuing instruction that the teachers have to remain present in the school with an attendance of 95%. Such kind of instructions created grievances and whining among the teachers and academic sphere.

 School Education Department had earlier issued some instructions which are being mentioned below:-

“At least 95% attendance of teachers must be ensured. Participation in the prayer meeting by all the teachers. Reading of a quotation or message with moral value of any stalwart may be done by a student with explanation by a teacher may be introduced. Teachers should not be allowed to leave before the scheduled school hours.  Teachers may be allowed to take leave with prior permission/sanction. Teacher shall not be allowed and stern action has to be taken against the teacher engaging the proxy teacher including the H.M. Overall discipline including punctuality should be maintained at any cost.”Clarification  regarding 95% attendance, is that as if 95% attendance should be maintained, then all the legal leaves of the teachers including C.L, E.L, Medical Leave must be stopped, Education Minister Tapan Chakraborty, clarified that, this attendance means attendance of total working days, not service days. This means extra 5days of unauthorized leave should be automatically allotted to the teachers.

On the other hand, such clearance also raised questions like:-why only 5 days legalized by the Government, Inspite of 100 days? Because if 5 days are allowed, then in the year, the teachers in total will get extra 18 days unauthorized leave. The primary question is that a) what kind of leave should be given name to these extra days? b) Is that means the Government indirectly allowed teachers to join in various political campaigns, rallies etc.?

The action taken against teachers is mentioned below: