Despite Covid threat, teachers made to sit together to check papers

Amit Khajuria

Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 12

The JK Board of School Education (JKBOSE) is putting the lives of hundreds of government teachers at risk of coronavirus by making them sit in a hall to check examination papers of Class X and XII.

More than 200 government teachers of the Education Department of Jammu and Kashmir have been engaged for checking examination papers of Class X and XII by the Secrecy Wing of JKBOSE.

These teachers gather in a small hall with five-six teachers sitting on one table to check the answer sheets of students who had appeared in board examinations.

These teachers are feeling the threat of deadly coronavirus, as one person has been found positive in Jammu and three in Ladakh.

“About five-six teachers are sitting on one table to evaluate the answer sheets. Though we are wearing masks as precaution, but still the threat exists. Some teachers are allergic to dust and whenever a new bundle of sheet is opened some of the teachers start coughing and sneezing,” said a teacher.

“We have also requested our seniors to suspend the work for a few days till the weather improves, but of no avail. It is an alarming situation in the entire world, but our department does not consider its teachers normal human beings. We all are at risk,” he added.

The department has not even provided hand sanitisers and masks to the teachers.

The department, however, giving the excuse of the punctuality of the results of Class XII, says that that they are taking necessary precautions at the venue.

“We cannot delay the results of Class XII, but we are taking all precautionary measures in the hall. We are maintaining one meter distance and ensuring proper cleaning of hall, desks and washrooms,” said Sudhir Singh, Joint Secretary (Secrecy), JKBOSE.

“As far as masks and sanitisers are concerned, there is an acute shortage in the market but we have requested all the teachers to use their masks. We will also use two more halls available with us for staff to sit,” he added.