Concerns Raised Over Census Duties for Teachers in Chamba District

Teachers' Workload Under Scrutiny

Mahinder Patyal
Bharmour

In the challenging terrain of Chamba, the decision to assign census responsibilities to teachers after school hours has been criticized as impractical and unjust. This concern was voiced by Bharmaur–Pangi MLA Dr. Janak Raj, who highlighted the excessive burden placed on educators.

Dr. Raj noted that numerous schools are situated in isolated regions, requiring teachers to trek for hours to reach them. The poor condition of roads, steep mountain trails, and the impending monsoon season will exacerbate these difficulties. He argued that expecting teachers to take on census duties after a full day of instruction is an unreasonable expectation.

“Teachers are not merely employees; they are the builders of our children's future. If they are overwhelmed with non-academic tasks, it will negatively impact students' learning, exam performance, and the overall educational quality,” Dr. Raj stated.

He also cautioned that the ongoing imposition of extra duties could adversely affect teachers' mental and physical well-being, diminishing their effectiveness in the classroom.

To address this issue, Dr. Raj proposed that the government should recruit educated unemployed youth, outsourced personnel, or designated enumerators for census tasks. This approach would not only create job opportunities for many young individuals but also ensure that educational institutions operate without interruptions.

“While the census is crucial for national development, education serves as the cornerstone of the nation's future. Both aspects are vital, and the government must seek a balanced approach to ensure that neither the census nor the education of children is compromised,” he remarked.

The MLA called on the government to relieve teachers of non-academic responsibilities, allowing them to focus entirely on nurturing the future of their students.