Pvt schools violate govt order on closure of educational institutes

Force teachers to attend school for ‘admission process’

Despite instructions for strict adherence to government order regarding closure of educational institutions in view of intense heat wave, private schools continue to violate the order with impunity in the name of “admission process” for the next academic session.
Under the new modus operandi adopted by some private schools, they had called off academic activities on their campuses, but the teachers, who are paid meagre salary per month, had been forced to attend school daily and work amid sizzling weather conditions.
The state government had ordered closure of all educational institutions, including private schools, in the Jammu zone from May 21 to May 28 in view of intense hot weather conditions.
The District Magistrate, Simrandeep Singh, while invoking powers conferred under Section 133 CrPC, had directed the principals and managements of schools affiliated with the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) and Central Board of School Education (CBSE) falling in Jammu district to ensure strict compliance with the order after it was brought to his notice that some private schools (affiliated with CBSE as well as JKBOSE) did not comply with the order issued by the government.
“Scores of private schools, comprising Shiksha Niketan Higher Secondary School Jeeven Nagar, SP Smart Higher Secondary School, Delhi Public School, Aryan Public Senior Secondary School, RS Pura, Stephens International Convent School, Miran Sahib, and other institutes, continue to violate the government order in the name of admission process for the next academic session. Teachers are being forced to attend school, despite these institutes been asked to stop their functioning for a week in view of harsh weather conditions,” said an official in the office of Chief Education Officer (CEO).
The official said the management of these schools must clarify whether the teachers, who were being paid a meagre monthly salary, had no right to avail themselves of these holidays amid scorching heat. “In the garb of admission process, the managements of these schools have been harassing the teachers, who have been forced to do works other than academic activities,” he said.
The irony was that some institutes had even cut short the vacation period and had decided to resume normal class work from Thursday, the official said, adding that the district administration and directorate of school education should take serious note of violation of government directive and punitive action must be initiated against all such institutes.
The District Magistrate, Jammu, had warned that the failure to comply with the government order would lead to proceedings under Section 188 of Ranbir Penal Code (RPC).