JOIN USArmy Public School in Dhaula Kuan, south-west Delhi, is forcing teachers to come to school despite the Directorate of Education’s order to let schools remain closed till July 8 in the Capital, alleged staff members.
Teachers complained that they were asked to come to school on July 2. They were then given a three-day leave after they protested against the management’s decision to open the school just for teachers.
“The DoE had issued the order on Sunday on extending summer vacation for a week under which even teachers should not go to school. But now the principal is asking us to come on Friday and Saturday,” said a teacher.
Some teachers decided to take a stand and not attend school till it opens officially on July 9. Another teacher complained that they wasted Monday and Friday doing nothing as there was no schedule planned for them.
“What do we do sitting idle in the school? The principal is not considerate and if they had to open the school for us, the management should have planned something concrete,” said a teacher.
When principal Anshu Sahi was contacted, she declined to comment on the issue. But the school’s office confirmed that it was open for teachers between 7:30 am and 1:30 pm on both days.
A DoE official said the school is violating the department’s order. “Our circular clearly states that schools cannot reopen before July 9 for both teachers and students because of the heat. If schools are not following the order they will be pulled up,” said a senior DoE official.
Some teachers have decided to approach the deputy director of education south west Delhi for appropriate action and even written a letter to the education minister highlighting the issue.