PANJIM: The Higher Secondary Teachers Association of Goa (HSTAG) has urged State government to reconsider its decision to make it mandatory for all teaching and non-teaching staff of the schools and higher secondaries to resume duty.
Pending decision on re-opening of the schools for the new academic year 2020-21, Directorate of Education asked school managements to ensure that all the teaching and non-teaching staff report for duty from Wednesday; except for those residing in containment zone.
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HSTAG president Anant Pissurlekar has raised strong objection to the decision and has urged Chief Minister to reconsider the move in view of rising COVID-19 cases.
“Was there a need to call the teachers so abruptly when the number of COVID 19 cases is increasing in the State? No decision has been taken on re-opening of schools,” he questioned in a press statement issued.
“The decision of the government to call so many teachers to work from schools without having students and in the absence of proper transport and other facilities is very surprising and appears to have been taken without giving a second thought,” he added.
The association has urged Government to justify how quality of online education can be improved by teaching from schools. “On the contrary forcing teachers to visit schools for online teaching will definitely affect quality of online teaching,” Pissurlekar said.
He said teachers have worked hard during the vacations for assessment, supervision and door-to-door survey and attended e-learning training.
Pissurlekar said all the teachers are not techno-savvy especially senior ones, who are on the verge of retirement. He said that even then the teachers have tried their level best in using technology and mobiles, using latest software to conduct online classes.
He further pointed out that almost all the higher secondary teachers have bought a laptop, hotspot and WiFi connections at their residence to facilitate e-learning and were working honestly from home without any single complaint other than that of connectivity.
