24 January,2011 06:34 AM IST | | Shiva Devnath
Pressed for resources, schools say they cannot afford to release teachers for the Census between Feb 9 and March 5 as it overlaps with HSC and internal exams
Schools in the city are now saddled with an additional responsibility, that of Census duty. But resource constraints have made some schools shoot back at civic authorities, saying they cannot afford to spare teachers for conducting the Census, what with Higher School Certificate exams around the corner.
After a BMC circular instructed hundreds of teachers from schools across the city to officiate in the forthcoming Census scheduled between February 9 and March 5, Principal Vijay Kumar of St Francis D'Assisi School in Borivli wrote to the Assistant Municipal Commissioner (copy with MiD DAY), saying that the school would not be able to release 28 teachers for the Census.
Principal Vijay Kumar of St Francis D'Assisi School in Borivli wrote to the BMC and said that the school would not be able to release 28 teachers for the Census
He pointed out that about 1,300 students were appearing from his school. Taking teachers away for the Census would disrupt the invigilation and conduct of the exams for Standard XII students.
The Census coincides with HSC exams, which get underway in March, and many schools' internal exams. As such, the summons for the Census duty couldn't have been more inopportune for the overcharged teachers, sources say.
School officials said that they can't run the school without teachers, nor close it for a month while they are away on government duty.
"Is it legal to keep the school closed for a month in the course of the academic year? The children's future will be in jeopardy," Kumar said.
A principal from another school, who did not want to be named, said that it was not possible to function without teachers for an entire month.
"We will have to shut the institution and the future of hundreds of students would be at risk. A month is far too much to accommodate," he said.
Last Thursday, parents of school children in the suburbs held a meeting in the light of the BMC circular.
They, too,u00a0protested the assignment of teachers for Census during the academic year, saying it would affect their children's studies.
The Other Side
Assistant Municipal Commissioner, R-North Ward, P R Masurkar, said, "The notice has been issued by the Central government. However, a solution is being worked out to ensure that the students' future is not affected.'
