Disabled teachers get exam duty, no clarity on exemption

Sanjeev Singh Bariana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 9

Disabled teachers have opposed the Education Department’s decision to assign them evaluation and other duties during the ongoing Class X and XII examinations of the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB).

The move affects about 6,000 teachers. The department has made it clear that exemption will be granted only in “genuine” cases.

In a communication to the PSEB chairman, the Punjab Government (Education Department) Handicapped Union has sought course correction, citing court decisions and directions of government departments. The union has demanded that DEOs be authorised to exempt disabled staff from such duties.

Secretary (School Education) Krishan Kant said, “The DEOs have been given powers to check the genuineness of applications and allow exemption accordingly. Staff members who can’t walk or have visual disability have been exempted.”

A senior official at the PSEB headquarters said “A large chunk of these teachers procured fake medical certificates. Giving exemption to all of them will make it tough for us to conduct the exams smoothly.” Harcharan Brar of Government Senior Secondary School, Fazilka, said: “We had submitted disability certificates issued by a department-approved board at the time of our appointment. Do we need to get a fresh certificate? There is also no clarity on the exemption to certain categories, if any.”

A teacher with 75 per cent disability, Sanjay Dandiwal, said, “When the e-Punjab Schools portal has the data about the disability of its employees, why are we being dislocated? Even the Supreme Court has called for a lenient view for cases of 40 per cent disability or higher.”

Board chairman Manohar K Kalohia couldn’t be contacted despite repeated attempts.