Exempt Teachers from BLO Duty: A new controversy is currently brewing in the education system of West Bengal. Teachers are being appointed as Booth Level Officers (BLOs), which is hindering their primary academic responsibilities. This report discusses the impact of this move on the state’s education system and the steps being taken to address it.
The Core Problem
Teachers in various government schools across West Bengal are being assigned to election-related duties, particularly as Booth Level Officers (BLOs). As a result, they are not getting enough time to teach their students. This issue is not limited to the secondary or higher secondary levels; primary school teachers are also facing this problem.
Concerns of the Education Boards
Due to this problem, the two major education boards of the state, the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education and the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education, have expressed their concerns.
- West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education: The council has requested all district magistrates and school inspectors to exempt secondary and higher secondary teachers from BLO duties. According to the council, the third-semester and first-semester exams for higher secondary are approaching, which will be held in September. In this situation, it is crucial for teachers to be present in schools.
- West Bengal Board of Secondary Education: The board has directly written to the Chief Electoral Officer of the state, requesting that their board staff and officers be excluded from election duties.
The Plight of Primary Teachers
Along with the higher secondary and secondary levels, the condition of primary school teachers is also quite precarious. The number of teachers in primary schools is already low. On top of that, if they are engaged in non-academic work like BLO duties, the students’ education will be severely affected. Many believe that the primary education board should also submit a petition on this matter.
The Path to a Solution
There is a single demand emerging as a solution to this problem – teachers should be engaged only in teaching. Other government department employees can be appointed to handle important tasks like elections. If employees from other departments can perform this duty, then teachers should not be pressured to do this work.
Teachers are the builders of the nation’s future, and their main job is to provide proper education to students. Therefore, it is very important to ensure that their attention is not diverted elsewhere.
