Rajasthan Education Minister Mandates Local Census Duty for Teachers to Protect Classroom Time
In a significant move to safeguard academic continuity, Rajasthan's Education Minister Madan Dilawar has issued strict directives regarding teacher deployment for the upcoming Census 2027. The minister has mandated that teachers assigned as Booth-Level Officers (BLOs) for census duties must be posted exclusively within the immediate vicinity of their respective schools.
Minimizing Disruption to Classroom Teaching
The primary objective behind this directive is to minimize disruption to classroom teaching and prevent the learning losses that were observed during previous administrative exercises like the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). Minister Dilawar emphasized that teachers must continue their academic responsibilities during the first half of the day and only undertake census duties in the second half.
"Teachers assigned BLO duties should be posted within the immediate vicinity of their schools so that they can spend at least half the day teaching," stated Dilawar on Tuesday. He further highlighted that this measure aims to curb the practice of securing convenient postings through recommendations, ensuring a fair and education-focused deployment system.
Attendance Mandate and Office Deployment Review
In addition to the geographical restriction, the minister has made it mandatory for all BLOs to mark attendance in their respective schools. This requirement ensures that teachers remain accountable to their primary educational roles even while engaged in census work.
Furthermore, Dilawar has ordered a review of current teacher deployments at sub-divisional and collectorate offices. He directed that teachers currently stationed at these administrative offices be sent back to their schools. In cases where deployment at such offices is unavoidable, the minister specified that only teachers from urban schools located at district headquarters should be assigned, rather than those from block-level institutions.
Teacher Bodies Raise Concerns Over Summer Deployment
Meanwhile, teacher unions have expressed significant concerns regarding the census deployment, particularly during the summer vacation period. Rajasthan Shikshak Sangh (Ekikrit) state president Ranjeet Meena pointed out that teachers posted outside their home districts rely on the vacation to spend time with their families.
"We have requested that teachers from outside districts not be assigned Census 2027 duties. Those already deployed should be replaced with local teachers," Meena stated. The union has also demanded exemptions for specially-abled teachers with restricted mobility from such assignments, advocating for their inclusion in alternative, less physically demanding roles.
Balancing Administrative Duties and Educational Commitments
This directive reflects a broader effort to balance administrative duties with core educational commitments. By ensuring teachers remain close to their schools, the government aims to maintain academic standards while fulfilling national census obligations. The move is expected to enhance teacher availability, reduce travel-related absenteeism, and foster a more stable learning environment for students across Rajasthan.
As Census 2027 approaches, these measures will be closely monitored for their impact on both educational outcomes and census efficiency, setting a potential precedent for other states facing similar challenges.
