Government school classes are facing disruption as teachers are assigned to Special Intensive Revision (SIR) duty. Teachers listed as Booth Level Officers (BLOs) by the Election Commission are required to fulfill these duties. School administrators are adjusting timetables to manage staff shortages. In some cases, single teachers are now responsible for two classes simultaneously. When teachers are unavailable, students are sent to the playground or library.
School principals express concern over faculty shortages. Mid-term exams are scheduled for September. This academic disruption impacts student preparation. Teachers assigned to BLO duties are attempting to balance both responsibilities. The Government Schools Teachers’ Association (GSTA) highlighted the academic impact. Ajay Veer Yadav, GSTA general secretary, stated that a significant number of trained teachers are deployed as BLOs and supervisors for the SIR exercise. This absence of thousands of teachers will adversely affect the education of lakhs of students. The GSTA warns that this academic loss is difficult to compensate later.
Staffing Challenges Reported
School heads find managing senior teachers assigned to BLO duty challenging. One principal noted that class teachers have also been assigned BLO duties. This raises questions about who will conduct classes. Teachers are handling multiple classes with dual responsibilities. The current situation forces schools to engage students in sports or library activities. This makes syllabus management difficult. It also hinders preparations for upcoming mid-term exams.
