Chandigarh, March 5: The Punjab government has initiated a plan to streamline the appointment of teachers for electoral roll revisions to prevent schools from becoming understaffed. With 18,000 teachers slated for deputation as Block Level Officers (BLOs), the Education Department is focusing on identifying schools where staff shortages could most severely impact students.
The state intends to provide alternative teaching arrangements for schools currently operating with a single teacher or those facing high student-teacher ratios. This strategic shift follows concerns that non-academic duties have historically hindered the educational progress of students across the state.
“A list of such schools was being prepared and arrangements for alternative teachers were being made,” a senior department functionary asserted.
The issue was brought to the forefront last year when Education Minister Harjot Bains found a Ludhiana school nearly empty of staff during a surprise visit. Following that incident, the Minister maintained that the administration must move away from using teaching staff for administrative tasks.
“In keeping with this, the administration is coordinating with the State Election Commission to ensure smooth operations,” the official declared.
However, teacher representatives have noted that the practical implementation of these safeguards remains a challenge. DTF President Vikram Dev affirmed that previous election cycles saw teachers posted up to 100 km away from their home stations. He stated that the department must ensure that specialized teachers, such as those in commerce and science, are not removed from their primary academic responsibilities for extended periods.
