MoS Jitendra Singh takes congnisance into absenteeism of Udhampur school teachers

The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North-Eastern Region, Jitendra Singh, has taken cognisance into the issue of absenteeism of teachers at a government-run primary school in a far-flung area of Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur, on a tip-off provided by ANI.

Conceding on a tweet by ANI, Singh promptly swang into action and directed the district administration and state education authorities to look into the matter.

"Thanks for this input. Have asked the District administration and State Education authorities to look into it," Singh quoted the tweet by ANI and tweeted.

Singh further informed that the concerned chief education officer and the zonal education officer have flung into action.

"There are two teachers held responsible, against whom a prompt action is being initiated," he said.

The absenteeism of the two teachers came to light when ANI posted a series of tweets - of the students' parents - and furnished a story on the same.

Reportedly, the students in the Nanansoo village of Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur have been, for days, waiting for their teachers outside their primary school even as they haven't turned up since August 15.

Parents claim that the students wait outside the locked school for two hours every day.

Speaking to ANI, a local, Bittu Ram, said, "No teacher has come to the school since August 15. The children are really troubled and there is no other school nearby."

Another local Sushil Kumar said that absenteeism has become a routine of the teachers deputed here.

"The teachers visit school once in a blue moon but after 1 p.m. and close the school after one hour," he added.

Responding to the matter, Udhampur's Chief Education Officer J.R. Bhardwaj said an appropriate action will be taken in this regard.

"I have come to know that two teachers deputed at school are not teaching. I have sought a detailed report on this and an appropriate action will be taken," he added.

The said school was established in 2004.