Handwara, July 11 (KNS): In a surprising incident, dozens of schools in Handwara area of north Kashmir's Kupwara district experienced an unprecedented absence of teachers for several hours on the first day of schools after the summer vacation. Teachers allegedly abandoned their classrooms to welcome the newly appointed Zonal Education Officer in the Mawer Zone of Kupwara.
The Kashmir News Service (KNS) has learnt that numerous school heads and teachers left their classrooms unattended during duty hours to greet newly appointed ZEO in the Mawer Zone.
Sources said that school heads and teachers from 20 schools in the Mawer zone left their schools around 12 pm to welcome the ZEO, neglecting the future of the students for several hours.
This trend of leaving schools during duty hours to welcome newly appointed zone heads has become a new norm. It is imperative to put an end to this practice promptly or schedule such meetings after working hours, said a parent from the Mawer Zone.
The aggrieved parents believe that such actions are solely aimed at pleasing the ZEO and showcasing loyalty without considering the students' future.
Another parent, while expressing his anger, stated that teachers should be held accountable. "There is no harm in welcoming a zone head, but such meetings should not disrupt students' studies. We hope that the school education department will investigate the matter and ensure that such practices are not repeated in the future," he said.
Meanwhile, Chief Education Officer Kupwara Abdul Hamid Fani, told KNS that the school heads or teachers should not have left schools during duty hours and should have visited the venue after 4 pm only.
He said that he will seek details and action will be initiated against the guilty. (KNS)