Punjab teachers told no NGO work without leave

Chandigarh May 20 (IANS) Taking a serious view of government school teachers remaining absent from duty in the name of doing work with NGOs, the Punjab government Tuesday directed the teachers that they can work with NGOs only after taking proper leave.

Punjab Education Minister Sikandar Singh Maluka said that absentee teachers and other staff of the government schools indulging in activities of NGOs and other voluntary organisations were hampering teaching in the government schools.

He said that necessary directions have been issued to concerned authorities to check the rising trend among teaching staff of shirking work.

"It is unfortunate that the teaching community is involved with one NGO or the other and remain absent from work," Maluka said, adding that concerned officers in districts have been told to initiate action against absentee teachers.

"If anybody wanted to be associated with NGOs and voluntary organisations, then prior sanctioned leave from the higher authorities was required so that the working of the institution was not hampered," the minister said.