The Education Minister, Punjab, Aruna Chaudhary has directed the officials of the department who are deployed on school checking duties to accord full respect to the teachers during checking of schools and desist from causing panic during such visits. The minister also said that no question should be asked from any of the teachers in front of the teachers during the course of such visits. As per the directions of the Education Minister, the Secretary of the department Mr. Krishan Kumar has issued written orders regarding the full compliance with these directions.In a statement here today, Mrs. Chaudhary said that it was brought to her notice that during school checking visits, the teams misbehave with the teachers and an atmosphere of fear is created. The minister also said that owing to such tense atmosphere, panic usually grips teachers who are not able to fathom answers to the queries put to them despite having experience and full command over the subject. She insisted that checking teams treat the teachers with dignity.
The minister further said that the checking teams should desist from asking questions from the teachers in front of the students so as to maintain their (teachers’) honour. Elaborating more, Mrs. Chaudhary said that the interaction with the teachers should centre on syllabus being taught to the students, checking the learning learning level of students, examining the copies, results but in no circumstance should a checking team put a question to a teacher as if the latter is undergoing some kind of examination. If at all anything is to asked then it must be done separately in the room of school Principal. The minister said that since a teacher is a nation builder and the most respected personality in the society, great care ought to be taken to not cause embarrassment to them thus lowering their morale.The Secretary, Mr. Krishan Kumar disclosed that in accordance with the directions of the Education Minister, written orders have been issued to the D.P.I. (Secondary Education), D.P.I. (Elementary Education), Director SCERT, Circle Education Officers, District Education Officers, and all Education Reform teams for strict compliance with these failing which the erring official would have to face strict action.