Gujarat Cracks Down on Truant Teachers: 150 Dismissals Since 2019

Since 2019, the Gujarat government has dismissed 150 schoolteachers for unauthorised absence. The bulk of these dismissals occurred between 2019 and 2022, with 16 recent terminations. This action was highlighted during a query about teachers receiving salaries while living abroad. Measures for teacher attendance are being strengthened.

The Gujarat government revealed on Wednesday that 150 schoolteachers have been dismissed since 2019 for unauthorised absences. The information was shared with the legislative assembly by Education Minister Kuber Dindor.

The breakdown shows that between 2019 and 2022, a total of 134 teachers from government and grant-in-aid schools were terminated for skipping work without permission, with another 16 being dismissed just recently. Congress MLA Kanti Kharadi raised a question regarding teachers from the Patan and Banaskantha districts receiving salaries while residing abroad.

Kharadi brought up the example of Bhavnaben Patel, a teacher from Panchha Primary School, who was found to have settled in the US and absent from her post for nearly eight years. Dindor confirmed that Patel was dismissed after an inquiry. Further actions are being taken to ensure teacher attendance through the Vidya Samiksha Kendra in Gandhinagar.

(With inputs from agencies.)