Uttar Pradesh's Primary Education in Crisis: Teachers Overburdened by Non-Academic Duties

Teaching in primary schools of Uttar Pradesh is severely impacted as teachers are assigned to non-academic duties like the SIR exercise. Rajya Sabha MP Javed Ali Khan highlights the issue, pointing out large teacher vacancies and calling for the exclusion of teachers from non-educational tasks.

In a bold assertion during Zero Hour, Rajya Sabha MP Javed Ali Khan lambasted the Uttar Pradesh government's management of primary education. Khan revealed that teaching has stagnated as educators are diverted to non-academic duties including the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Khan expressed grave concern over 85,000 vacancies out of 4.18 lakh permanent teaching posts, emphasizing that nearly 1.5 lakh Shiksha Mitras are left working for meager pay. The diversion from academic responsibilities, he argued, is detrimentally affecting education.

Citing a high court order, Khan demanded the exclusion of teachers from tasks unrelated to education, except disaster management. Amid this call for reform, other Rajya Sabha members highlighted separate governance and accountability issues requiring urgent attention.

(With inputs from agencies.)