Bandipora admin cracks whip on govt teachers taking classes at coaching centres
Suhail Rather
Bandipora, May 26: The Bandipora administration on Friday morning conducted surprise inspection of coaching centres to ensure no government teacher is teaching in these private institutions.
A special team constituted by the Bandipora administration conducted raids on Friday morning and allegedly caught a senior lecturer who was found teaching students at a private coaching centre in violation of the government rules.
Though the inspection team was tight lipped about the raids, however the officials in the department and the eye witnesses confirmed to Kashmir Convener that the senior lecturer was delivering a lecture in private coaching centre when the team including Principal NM Higher Secondary Kaloosa and Govt Higher Secondary Mantrigam knocked at the door at caught him red handed.
Earlier the unemployed educated youth of Bandipora who are running private tuition classes handed over a list of government teachers to the Bandipora administration who are involved in private tuitions despite the ban on their tuition. They hailed the administration for conducting raids and assured every possible assistance by them to identify such teachers who are encroaching into their domain and affecting their livelihood.
The owners of more than a dozen coaching centres in Bandipora have compiled a list of teachers and lecturers who are indulging in private coaching despite the ban and have sought action against them.
The owners said they have time and again urged the district administration to ensure no government teacher indulges in coaching but they have restricted themselves to paper work by issuing circulars only.
“No action has been taken so far. We have now provided a list who are openly teaching in private coaching centres and encroaching upon the bread and butter of the unemployed educated youth of the district,” said Dr Shafi wani, owner of a private coaching centre.
He said they have identified 18 teachers who are openly teaching at coaching centres and also promoting those through their social media channels and Whats app groups. The list has been provided to CEO Office, a copy of which is present with Kashmir Convener.
The other coaching centre owners said these teachers are using soft coercive measures against students thus forcing them to study in their coaching centres. “We are unemployed. Don’t we have the right to earn our livelihood? Such teachers are snatching our livelihood,” said another Coaching centre owner Peerzada Yasir.
They also blamed the district administration for not ensuring a ban on illegal practice by such government teachers. “Administration should have assisted us in providing a conducive atmosphere so that we earn respectably as we are not demanding any government job but the education department is showing a cold shoulder to us,” he added.
Zubair Altaf, another private tutor, said they have now compiled the list and assisted the administration to identify the main accused persons. “Let the government use its agencies to cross check our list and take action,” they said. “Their (Govt teacher’s) social media handles and previous Whats app statuses are enough evidence to prove our statement”.
They said they can assist the education department in providing leads, location and timings to catch such teachers red handed. “The ball is in the court of administration now. Let them prove that they are serious in their claims”.
Earlier Deputy Commissioner Bandipora Dr Owais Ahmad sought a report from Chief Education officer Bandipora and assured justice to the owners of private coaching centres.
Chief Education Officer Bandipora has constituted a 4-member committee headed by Deputy CEO Muhammad Rafiq parray that was tasked to conduct an in-depth inquiry into the allegations levelled against the government teachers and lecturers indulging in private coaching. The committee has been asked to submit a report within five days.
