DSEK teacher training missive for Sunday draws flak

Srinagar, May 12: A circular issued by the Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) asking teachers in Srinagar to attend a training programme on Sunday has come in for severe criticism over infringement into their leisure time. The teachers have demanded immediate withdrawal of the circular.
The OSD of the Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK) in a circular issued to Chief Education Officer (CEO) Srinagar has stated that a training programme is scheduled on inclusive and child centric classroom transition on May 13 and 14.
“In this connection, I am directed to convey approval of Director School Education Kashmir for conduct of training May 13 (Saturday) and 14 (Sunday), 2023 at BHSS Soura, Srinagar involving one Head Teacher and two Teachers from 50 intervention schools of your district,” the official document reads.
However, the move has come under criticism with teachers saying that training on Sunday after biometric for six days was uncalled for.
“A teacher is a parent and a social being. He/she has social commitments on Sundays after putting in a week’s effort at school. If Sundays are also gone, they lose all social interactions and personal spaces,” said a teacher wishing not to be named.
The teachers said it was highly insensitive to have such programs on Sundays when teachers happen to have planned for many social and personal engagements.
“Such unilateral instructions don’t gel well with academic ethos where authorities cannot infringe on personal time of teachers on Sundays,” another school teacher said.
The teachers demanded that the circular should be immediately withdrawn and all such programmes should be held on working days.
“Already teachers are taxed with their daily academic schedules and taking away their leisure time will directly impact their health and family affairs,” the teacher said.