While the state is trying to address the problem of dropout rate in schools, a report revealed that primary teachers across the state spend only one third of their work days in classrooms. The rest of their time is spent in non-teaching activities, said the study.

An internal report prepared by the members of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation School Board pointed out the schools across the city had education sessions only on 58 days instead of the 180 days the schools are open.

“The report has been prepared after taking into account all the internal circulars for the teaching staff for attending various training and cultural programmes and election duties in the first six-month term,” said Bipin Barot, a board member.

“The scenario remains the same across over 25,000 government primary schools in the state even after passing of a resolution by the governor barring the engagement of teachers in any non-teaching work,” said Chandu Joshi, the President of the Gujarat Primary School Teachers Association.

And yet, the primary school teachers are engaged in head counting in coastal villages for the ‘Unique Identity Card’ project. While the issue has been represented several times before the board president as well as the state education department, the practice of teachers attending to non-teaching duties continues.

Untrained teachers under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) are given 20-day training which is given to BEd and PTC degree holders.

Joshi said, “We have made representations for reduction of the number of days earmarked for various training programmes but there has been no result. Teachers are simply not allowed to be in the classrooms.”

... contd.