HYDERABAD: In a big relief to scores of teachers who were being burdened with non-academic activities apart from teaching duties, CBSE has issued fresh guidelines regarding their work. Teachers must be exempted from “bus duties”, which has been the practice until now. The Board in its amended guidelines replaced the word “teacher” with “lady attendant/lady guard”.
Asked why the teachers’ fraternity was not happy despite being allotted bus routes along areas where they resided, a lady teacher said that there was much more to it.
“It is the duty of the teacher to control 30 to 40 students. All through the journey teachers have to yell at students, asking them not to make noise or move from their seats. Since the teacher in the bus is usually not their class teacher or someone who teaches them, some students carry on with their mischief. If any student suffers a minor injury the teacher is made the culprit,” said Ms Sirisha Rao (name changed), a CBSE school teacher, adding that appointing separate attendants for transportation would make things easier for them.
The CBSE has also directed principals to strictly ensure teachers are not engaged in non-academic activities, quoting Section 27 of the RTE Act which bars the practice.
President of the TS Private Teachers Forum Shabbir Ali, said that they would keenly monitor how CBSE schools implemented the fresh guidelines.
“Teachers should be told to only take classes. They should not be burdened with canvassing and enrolment, fee collection and reminder tasks, bus duties etc.,” he said.
