Educationists have criticised the Administration’s move to compartmentalise teachers on the basis of sex by shifting male teachers from girls’ schools after complaints were received about a few male teachers misbehaving with girl students.

Though the transfer policy will come into force and male teachers transferred to co-educational institutions from the next session, it has already evoked strong criticism for being arbitrary.

Shifting of teachers because a few have indulged in ‘inappropriate’ behaviour with girl students is not a punishment for them but an irrational behaviour by the Administration, said teachers.

Calling it a knee-jerk reaction, HS Mamik, Director Vivek High School, said for a few rotten eggs, the axe should not fall on the entire lot. “Bad characters are present everywhere. The Administration can devise some other way if it wants to set an example for such offenders,” he said.

Aruna Bhardwaj, Principal Gurukul Global School, echoed the concern and said: “We are living in the 21st century and such decisions put a question mark on the farsightedness of the officials. We emphasise on globalisation and modernisation of education but this decision belies this outlook.”

“This is unfair to the teaching fraternity. We are living in a democratic society but the policy smacks of Talibanisation of education. Instead of shifting teachers from the girls’ school, the Administration always has the option of posting the ‘offenders’ to schools in the periphery,” said Vinod Sharma, president, Government Teachers’ Union. The union has already submitted a memorandum to the Administration in this regard and is awaiting a response.

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