Government school students suffer as teachers remain on SIR duty

BENGALURU: With teachers from administration schools in Karnataka still involved in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) duty even after the August 17 deadline, students at these schools are at present facing the consequences of a severe staff crunch.

Key points

• Educationist Prof Sabiha Bhoomigowda, former vice-chancellor of Karnataka State Akkamahadevi Women's University, remarked the "teacher scarcity at government schools is even ordinarily very high".
• Merina Flora, a schoolteacher busy with the SIR duty, remarked, There is a lot of pressure on us, but we have to complete our duty.
• Nagarathna P, who teaches Kannada at a administration school in Bengaluru, was formerly a booth level officer (BLO).
• The SIR exercise involving booth level officers, plenty of of whom are school and anganwadi teachers, kicked off in March.
• We have just seven regular teachers, five of whom have been deputed for the SIR exercise.

"The SIR exercise involving booth level officers, plenty of of whom are school and anganwadi teachers, kicked off in March. Their work would have been completed within one month, but they have to continue till August 17 since of two extensions to the exercise. When the final stage of claims and objections ends, the role of BLOs will continue till October 22. Not all of them are teachers, nevertheless, " stated an Election Commission of India official.

Merina Flora, a schoolteacher busy with the SIR duty, remarked, "There is a lot of pressure on us, but we have to complete our duty. The school has hired some guest teachers as regarding half of the teachers, including me, are out on SIR duty."

Nagarathna P, who teaches Kannada at a administration school in Bengaluru, was formerly a booth level officer (BLO). She remarked, "The workload has climbed incredibly. I am surrounded by students at all times. It is a particularly challenging situation."

For context, a significant number of teachers that TNIE spoke to, especially those who were on SIR duty, were tight-lipped not only regarding their worries and situations, but additionally of their colleagues who have to pitch in for them.

Suresh K, the headmaster at a administration school on Sarjapur Main Road, stated the only reason his school is functioning is since two non-profit organisations working with the school have deployed 25-27 teachers. SIR duty: Headmasters forced to take classes.

"We have just seven regular teachers, five of whom have been deputed for the SIR exercise. Without the intervention of these organisations, we would be in major trouble, " stated Suresh K, the headmaster at a administration school on Sarjapur Main Road, adding that he is expecting the five teachers to report back to school on Thursday.

Other schools in the vicinity are not so lucky, remarked Suresh. "I personally know of schools that are struggling. Their headmasters have been forced to teach a lot of classes. For some, the burden has eased a bit as student associations have deputed degree holders to teach at these schools on a voluntary basis, " he continued.

Educationist Prof Sabiha Bhoomigowda, former vice-chancellor of Karnataka State Akkamahadevi Women's University, remarked the "teacher scarcity at government schools is even ordinarily very high". This will affect students from marginalised communities. This person normally attend administration schools.

"The number of classes lost is significant and irreparable. Learning is already compromised due to a host of external factors and plenty of can't learn the lessons themselves, " she stated. Authorities from the Department of School Education & Literacy could not be reached for comments.

Taken together, the developments around government school students suffer as teachers remain on SIR duty point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.