Fear grips teachers

24/03/2020, STAFF REPORTER,COIMBATORE

A view of Corporation Primary School in Siddhapudur, one of the schools where teachers come to work despite the school being shut on Monday. M. Periasamy M_PERIASAMY

With the State government shutting down all educational institutions, teachers have been going to schools since March 17 owing to lack of specific instructions from the Department of School Education.

A teacher from a government primary school in the outskirts of Coimbatore city told The Hindu that teachers have been staying in schools from 9 a.m to 4 p.m in the past week.

“There is fear among all of the teachers here,” she said, noting that teachers choose to sit in separate classrooms rather than as a group.

The teachers have been carrying out preparatory works for the next academic year, the teacher said.

Private schools also are no exception to this. R. Visalakshi, president of Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association, said that the teachers are made to come to schools as the public examinations for Class XII and XI are under way. “If [the State Government] ask us to declare holiday for teachers, we will declare,” she said.

“Most of the teachers have been performing only clerical works,” said T. Arulanandam, State Auditor of Tamil Nadu High Higher Secondary School Graduate Teachers Association (TNHHSSGTA). These works, such as entering the particulars of the students and their attendance details, could be done by teachers from their homes, he noted.

Mr. Arulanandam, a Class X teacher in a government-aided school, said that students tend to clarify their doubts through calls or WhatsApp, which also does not require the presence of teachers in schools.

At a time when the Central and State governments are calling for social distancing, teachers must be allowed to work from homes, Mr. Arulanandam urged.

When contacted, Coimbatore Chief Educational Officer P. Usha said that all teachers, who go to schools or for examination duties, have been instructed about the COVID-19 precautionary measures.

Schools and examination centres are regularly disinfected and are equipped with soaps for handwashing. Any teacher feeling unwell will be permitted to take leave, Ms. Usha said.