SANGUEM
The absence of three teachers at the Government Primary School in Wadem-Sanguem till 9 am prompted students to return home without attending classes on Friday.
While the regular school starts at 7.45 am, the teachers made their presence felt only at 9.15 am, much after the students had already left school.
According to parents, the school has an enrolment of 76 students, with four teachers teaching from Classes 1 to 4. Parents informed that of the four teachers, one teacher was on leave and the same was duly conveyed to the other three teachers on the previous day.
As the teachers failed to report for their duties on time, the parents contacted local Panch Member Chandan Unandkar and informed him about the issue.
The students were then sent back home and the parents along with Unandkar waited at the school for the teachers.
At about 9.15 am, the teachers arrived in the school and when questioned, they blamed the bus transport and said the bus had reached late, thereby delaying them from reaching the school on time.
Parents alleged that this is not the first time the teachers have reached late for school.
“This is a regular affair. While one teacher is dedicated and makes it to the school at 7.30 am, the others allegedly reach well after 8.15 am as the first bus to the village reaches only at 8.15 am,” said a parent.
A visibly unhappy panchayat member Chandan Unandkar said teachers they cannot give excuses of delayed bus service to the village.
“It is the duty of the teachers to make their own travel arrangements and report to school on time. If it is not feasible to make it on time for school, the teachers should leave their jobs,” said Unandkar.
The aggrieved parents have requested the teachers to reach the school on time in the New Year, failing which the parents along with the panchayat member Chandan Unandkar have threatened to report the matter to the Education Department.
