Election awareness duty during exams irks teachers

School teachers have raised concern over juggling their time between examination and election-related awareness programmes.

The Maharashtra Rajya Shikshak Parishad has written to the State Election Commission (SEC) in this regard on behalf of the teachers.

According to a circular issued by the education inspector, teachers are expected to take part in the systematic voter education and participation programme as decided in a meeting of the Election Commission on March 10, 2014.

Teachers have to get a resolution signed from the students' parents stating that they will exercise their right to vote. "Along with getting the resolution signed, the schools, through its students, must create awareness about the Lok Sabha election. Students must be acquainted with the democratic voting system, election, vote counting etc.," said the circular.

Schools are expected to organise a drawing competition, essay writing competition, elocution competition and rangoli competition. "We are in the middle of the practical and oral examinations right now. The programme is a very good initiative but it is not possible for us to be able to do justice to it at this time since we are with our exams. The EC knew that the elections will be in May so they should have organised this programme in at least January," said Anil Bornare, president, Maharashtra Rajya Shikshak Parishad.

Echoing Bornare's sentiment, Prashant Redij, principal, Hilda Castelino Marathi High School, Kandavli, said, "Making the teachers to do this at the time is not right. Also just getting it done at the last hour will not serve the purpose of awareness but instead burden the teachers."

The association has written to the EC to make necessary considerations.

"According to the Right to Education Act of 2009, teachers will have to work only on the day of elections and the two days of training required for it. These additional tasks should not be put on teachers," said Bornare.
vinamrata.b@dnaindia.net