No mid-year leave for Punjab teachers to go abroad

Balwant Garg

Faridkot, June 22

To clip the wings of government schoolteachers who fly abroad midyear, thus disrupting the students’ learning experience, the Education Department today directed the District Education Officers (DEOs) not to allow such leaves.

The teachers would be allowed to go abroad only during summer break (one month) and eight days of winter vacation, reads the letter issued by the department.

Students get affected

Many teachers prefer to go on leave when the schools are open, which puts a massive burden on the department and causes immense loss to the students. — Senior officer, Education Department

Instead of going abroad to meet their children during summer break, many schoolteachers had applied for the leave for coming months, stated the letter.

A senior officer on condition of anonymity said, “Schoolteachers enjoy leaves on the pattern of other government employees who can avail these without pay. Granting such leaves to teachers is a big loss for the students.”

“Instead of availing leaves during summer and winter vacations, many teachers prefer to go on leave when the schools are open, which puts a massive burden on the department and causes immense loss to the students,” he said.

Earlier, the department faced issues related to schoolteachers settling abroad without informing them. To check this practice, the department had directed its employees to submit details of their permanent residence (PR) visa, green cards and immigration status in their Annual Confidential Report (ACR). The move was aimed at reining in the long absentee and foreign crazy teachers who settled abroad without resigning.