The new academic year in Kolkata's state-run schools commenced on Friday, but the opening was far from smooth. A significant shortage of teaching staff, caused by teachers being deployed for BLO (Booth Level Officer) duties and campuses being used for SIR (Summary Revision of Electoral Rolls) hearings, cast a shadow over the first day of classes.
Schools Struggle with Skeleton Staff
Despite the official start, many school campuses across the city remained partially occupied for ongoing SIR hearings. Compounding the problem, a large number of teachers assigned to BLO responsibilities for the electoral revision process did not return to their teaching posts. This dual challenge created an acute manpower shortage, forcing school heads to manage with limited resources.
Raja Dey, headmaster of Bhawanipur Mitra Institution, highlighted the strain. He confirmed that eleven teachers from his school were still on BLO duty, while some rooms in both school buildings were occupied for SIR hearings. "We have to run the school at any cost," Dey stated, explaining that remaining teachers are taking on extra responsibilities to ensure regular classes begin for the crucial first summative assessment.
"Students' Week" Kicks Off with Operational Hurdles
The state school education department had planned a week-long "Students' Week" to inaugurate the session, starting with 'Book Day' on Friday. The schedule included environment-based activities on Saturday, educational events on Monday, creativity workshops on Tuesday, exposure visits on Wednesday, and closing fairs on Thursday.
However, the absence of staff made implementing these plans difficult. At Narayan Das Bangur Multipurpose School, headmaster Sanjay Barua reported the absence of 12 permanent teachers and the only Group C staff member. "As it is an integrated school, I have to be in school from 7.30 am to 4.30 pm. Today is Book Day, so I have to distribute books among students from primary to secondary myself," he said.
Impact on Syllabus and Daily Management
The situation raised serious concerns about covering the syllabus effectively. With the curriculum now divided into three summatives from primary to Class IX, teachers expressed anxiety over falling behind. A Bengali teacher serving as a BLO in Shyambazar lamented, "I checked answer scripts for the final examination while doing SIR duty. My students will suffer now as it's a new session for them."
Some schools, like Rani Rashmoni High School on S N Banerjee Road, managed to resume classes "in full swing" despite five of its fourteen teachers being on SIR duty. Headmaster Syed Mohsin Imam noted that the SIR hearing on campus did not cause major inconvenience due to adequate classrooms, but managing without the teachers would be difficult.
The strain was even more pronounced at institutions like Taltala Girls' High School, where all permanent teachers, including teacher-in-charge Susmita Mandal, were performing BLO duties. A BLO from Tollygunge voiced a common desire among teacher-BLOs: "Now that the syllabus has been divided into three summatives, I want to return to my school duty. But unless the SIR assignments end, I cannot join back."
As the week progresses, school administrators in Kolkata brace for challenging days ahead, balancing celebratory "Students' Week" activities with the pressing need to maintain academic momentum amidst a depleted workforce.
