Dist has 993 primary schools but no permanent elementary DEO

Punjab’s biggest district, Ludhiana, has 993 government primary schools but ironically, the state government has not appointed a single permanent District Education Officer (Elementary) for the past nearly three months, ever since the previous DEO was transferred. Teachers rue that many issues remain unaddressed in the absence of a permanent DEO.

Talking to The Tribune, Devinder Singh Sidhu, vice-president of the Democratic Teachers Union, said several matters required the immediate attention of the DEO.

“We are planning to hold a dharna outside the DEO office because the DEO (Secondary) has not been able to give us a patient hearing on various pending issues. We have repeatedly requested suitable time to take up the matters, but there has been no positive response for over a month. Grants for midday meals are not coming, midday meal workers are complaining of not being paid in many schools, and ACRs are not being forwarded for teachers applying for transfers or promotions. There are several routine issues that need urgent attention. Since the DEO (Secondary) has been given the dual charge of DEO (Primary), primary schools are suffering,” said Sidhu.

President of the Democratic Teachers’ Front, Daljit Singh Samrala, said the DEO (Secondary) was giving time to hear the union’s grievances. “Being the biggest district of Punjab, Ludhiana needs a regular DEO. Yet for nearly three months, one officer has been handling dual charge. In such a scenario, work is bound to suffer. We will hold a dharna outside the DEO office if the officer continues to deny us time for a proper hearing,” said Samrala.