In the wake of Coronavirus epidemic, the Government School Teacher Association (GSTA) Delhi has written to the Lieutenant Governor, the chief minister and the director of education of Delhi seeking time to discuss problems of government school teachers. Delhi is the third most affected state in the country after Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
Delhi Government school teachers have been engaged in relief work and activities since the pandemic reached Delhi. Om Pal Singh, principal, Government Boys Senior Secondary School, Kalyanpuri, and a teacher succumbed to the virus.
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Nearly 400 teachers have tested positive, said the association. The letter written by the general secretary of the association, Ajay Veer Yadav, seeks to address the immediate need of the government teachers who are on duty to deal with the COVID-19 crisis.
Allegations The GSTA Delhi alleges that though the teachers who have tested positive are supposed to isolate themselves, they are still being called for duty.
The letter further emphasis that the teachers are being treated as surplus staff and being sent to high-risk areas without any protective kits. The work that is being done is in the direction of the staff who are at a much lower position than that of the teachers.
The association calls it an ‘insult’ saying “stress brings down the immunity level and hence greater possibility more viral attack. Also the reason for 400 testing positive.” The association demands that the teachers be relieved of all such extra duties and sent back to their respective teaching duties in school.
