Zilla Parishad Teachers Assigned to Army Recruitment Duty, Sparking Union Outcry
In a controversial administrative move, the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Zilla Parishad has assigned 25 teachers from various district schools to assist with the ongoing army recruitment drive. This decision has ignited sharp criticism from teacher unions, who argue that it adds to an already heavy load of non-academic responsibilities, ultimately compromising student welfare and educational quality.
Late-Night Shifts and Rotational Duty Raise Concerns
The teachers have been called in on a rotational basis, with some duty hours beginning as late as 11 pm. This scheduling has exacerbated frustrations among educators, who feel overburdened by tasks unrelated to their primary teaching roles. One teacher, speaking anonymously, expressed deep concern: "The authorities are treating ZP teachers like bonded laborers. This new non-academic work will negatively impact students and their academic interests. There must be an end to loading teachers with such extraneous duties."
Official Justifications and Union Backlash
Education Officer (Primary) Jayashri Chavan explained that the ZP administration requested teacher services specifically for the recruitment drive, which started on Tuesday and is scheduled to continue until March 15. "Teachers are expected to assist aspirants with form-filling and related logistical tasks. Based on the requisition, we have provided teachers from different talukas to support this effort," she stated.
However, teacher unions have vehemently opposed this allocation. Vijay Salkar, president of the Shikshak Samiti teachers' union, called for an immediate reconsideration: "Instead of reducing the burden of non-academic work to benefit students, authorities are increasing such unproductive assignments. This constitutes a grave injustice toward both teachers and students, undermining the educational process."
Administrative Clarifications and Contradictions
ZP CEO Ankit provided further context, noting that the army headquarters specifically requested deputation of ZP staff proficient in Marathi to assist candidates. "Initially, we aimed to send non-teaching staff from ZP schools wherever possible. The assigned duty is not mandatory for teachers, and we will not take any disciplinary action if they are unable to attend for valid reasons," he clarified.
Despite these assurances, the assignment of 25 teachers has highlighted a broader systemic issue. The ongoing recruitment drive has become a flashpoint for longstanding grievances about the excessive non-academic workloads imposed on educators, raising questions about resource allocation and administrative priorities in the district's educational framework.
