School timings change, double shift staff to stay for 8 hours

The timings of government schools — primary, middle, high and secondary — were changed today to 9 am to 3.20 pm. For primary school students, the timing has been changed to 9 am to 3 pm, while for the double shift schools, the timing for the principal and non-teaching staff has been changed to 9 am to 5 pm.

According to an official statement, these new timings will be in force till February 28.

A principal at a local senior secondary school, however, said that in double shift schools — which run till 5.30 pm in two different shifts — the principals and the non teaching staff were required to be in the schools from 9 am till 5 pm.

“Normally, the teachers and principals in other schools are free by 3.30 pm but we have to sit till 5 pm. For performing extra, we are neither paid nor are given a holiday. This is unjustified, and if we raise an issue, we are told to get a transfer. After working hard for so many years, how can we leave the schools like this,” the principal of a double shift school said.

There are some 17-18 double shift schools in Ludhiana including, Government Senior Secondary School, PAU; Government School, Sekhewal; Government School, Cemetery road; Government School, near Division 3 and Government School, Basti Jodhewal.

Another principal of a double shift school said that even the non teaching staff were put on duties by the department but it was only the principals of these school who were to be present for the entire day. “The department should do something to provide a breather to the principals because we are not given anything for the extra work,” the principal said.