Teachers in Srinagar asked to remain off duty.
After ordering suspension of class work in all educational institutions a few days ago, the district administration Srinagar has now asked the teaching staff to remain off duty from Wednesday.
The decision was taken as a preventive measure to avoid spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said they have instructed the Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs) to keep teachers connected through Whatsapp groups but they need not to attend schools on daily basis.
“Unless anyone of them is required for any school administrative job by the school management any day, the teachers need not to attend schools every day,” DC Srinagar said.
“There is no point sending teachers to schools when there are no students,” he said.
The district administration has however instructed the heads of the departments/institutions to devise and submit a proposal for televised coaching classes. “This will be supported and financed by the district administration Srinagar,” reads a notice.
On Monday, authorities in Budgam closed schools for teachers in wake of the imposition of the section 144 by the district administration.
Meanwhile, Shahid Choudhary said only 19 percent of students from Srinagar district are enrolled in government schools for which the Pupil Teacher Ratio (PTR) was only 8:1 in the schools.
“So a teacher can call these students over phone and help them by academic assistance whenever needed,” he said.
About the Degree Colleges and Universities, the DC Srinagar said they have informed the college and university authorities that presence of teachers was not required in the institutions when there was no class work at all.
“But internally they (Colleges and University) can take their decision if they need them (teaching staff) for management works. Otherwise they are not required to be present in colleges and university every day,” Shahid Choudhary said.
The district administration has issued other directions to be complied by concerned organizations, persons, officials as an effective action/response mechanism in mitigating the transmission of COVID-19 in territorial jurisdiction of district Srinagar.
“All hostels and canteens shall remain closed till further notice while as all parks and gardens in district Srinagar shall remain closed till further notice issued by DDMA Srinagar,” reads a notice issued by DC Srinagar.
“It shall be responsibility of concerned Estates Officer to ensure that the parks and gardens are not opened to public in any case till such notification is issued,” it reads.