In order to check the practice of absenteeism in government schools, Education Departmentin Rajouri has decided to use Google Map and WhatsApp video calling services totrack the staff.
An order in this regard has been issued by District Instittueof Education and Training (DIET) Rajouri.
The order said that during field inspections by the teams,it has been observed that some teachers remain absent from their dutiesunauthorizedly, “thereby affecting the work culture in the schools”.
Sharing details, DIET Principal Rajouri, Pardeep KumarSharma said, “Here (in Rajouri), we have 1700 schools and ensuring punctualityof staff through field inspections is definitely very difficult. So, we’vedecided to use the technology of time to check the practice ofabsenteeism.”
“We’ve designated certain officials from the institute(DIET) who will call the teachers during the duty hours and they (teachers)will be asked to share their live location through Google Map applicationavailable on the Android phones used by most teachers,” Sharma, the DIETPrincipal said.
He added that the location of the teacher can also bechecked using the WhatsApp video call option.
Sharma further said that some teachers have also started acampaign against the new initiative of the department “but I believe that onlythose teachers who prefer unauthorized absence during duty hours have problemwith this initiative”.
The Rehbar-e-Talim Teachers Forum (RTTF) has howeverappreciated the new initiative of the DIET.
In a statement issued to the press, District President ofthe Forum, Aftab Tantray said, “Our Forum hails this move of the departmentaimed at to improve the work culture in the schools.”
Tantray appealed the Education Department to ensure that theorder about the new initiative is implemented in letter and spirit.