Govt orders mocked: Teacher refuses to teach, CEO office offers cover in Bandipora

Convener News Desk

Srinagar, March 11: Despite clear government orders directing all attached teachers to return to their schools, a teacher from High School Chanpal Chittbandi, a tribal area in Bandipora district, continues to skip classes and report to the Chief Education Officer (CEO) office instead.

The teacher, assigned to teach Class 10 English, was earlier on an unauthorised deputation at the CEO office for a long time. Last month, the Director of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) ordered his return to the school.

However, sources say the CEO office overruled the Director’s order, allowing the teacher to return to office duties rather than fulfilling his teaching responsibilities.

Students at the school have raised concerns, alleging that the teacher only marks attendance in the morning and then leaves. “We see him in the morning for attendance, but after that, he disappears,” said a Class 10 student.

Another student asked, “Why does our teacher stay in the CEO’s office while we sit here without an English class? Do students in tribal schools not deserve proper education?” A third student added, “We have no choice but to study on our own. Every day, he comes, signs in, and leaves. This is not fair.”

This situation comes despite DSEK’s February 22, 2025 order mandating that all attached teaching staff return to their parent institutions.

To ensure compliance, the government has now tasked District Vigilance Officers (DVOs) with personally monitoring the implementation of these directives and submitting a report by March 15.

While the order applies to all teaching and non-teaching staff, concerns have been raised about selective enforcement.

In Bandipora district, multiple Cultural Coordinators are reportedly still working in offices instead of schools, allegedly with approval from Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs). The District Cultural Coordinator remains stationed at the CEO office, despite the detachment order.

Local residents and education activists have criticized these irregularities, questioning why a teacher from a tribal school was selected for an office role while teachers from town schools with surplus staff could have been assigned instead.