Mumbai: School staffers told to not report for physical attendance

The civic body has asked teachers to continue working from home

In a major relief for both teaching and non-teaching staff of city schools, they will no longer have to report to work just for recording their physical attendance. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) education department issued a circular on Tuesday evening regarding the same and said that the decision had been taken in view of the rising COVID-19 cases in the city.

As per the initial arrangements, 50 per cent physical attendance was mandatory for both teaching and non-teaching staff of schools. They used to take turns to report to schools to log in their attendance. Since the COVID-19 cases started increasing in the city, there has been growing demand from staffers to cancel the earlier order.

"Considering the rise in Coronavirus cases in the city, all teaching and non-teaching staff of schools have been asked to work from home through online methods from March 17, till the next order is issued," states the circular issued by BMC education officer Mahesh Palkar.

‘It was long pending'
"We have been demanding this for some time now. Finally the BMC has paid heed to our concerns," said Rajesh Oandya from Teachers Democratic Front. Adding to this, Shivnath Darade from Shikshak Parishad Mumbai said, "Just calling teachers to school for signatures was illogical, because classes are being held online."