189 Odisha Teachers ‘Absent’ From Schools For Years

Bhubaneswar: Not days or months, teachers of several schools in Odisha have remained absent for years together. A report of School And Mass Education Department has claimed that as many as 189 teachers and employees have been on unauthorised leave for over five years.

Taking cognisance of such gross irregularities, the department has now decided to take disciplinary action against such teachers and employees.

Of the total 189 'missing' teachers and employees, 108 have been appointed on a contractual basis. Binod Majhi, who was working as an assistant teacher at Barubandha School in Titlagarh block, has not visited the school even once, since 2014.

Not only Majhi, Bhakachan Jani of Runi Mahul Upper Primary School is also absent for the last five years.

Tanmayi Das, headmistress of Runi Mahul UP School said that despite having served notices to him several times in the past, the concerned teacher did not resume his duty. “From February 2014, the teacher has not come to school. Hence, the matter was apprised to the higher-ups." she said.

“The then headmaster maintained record of teachers by marking them on leave without pay for six months and subsequently their names were deteled from the records,” said Harendranath Behera, headmaster of Gurudaspur UP School.

Meanwhile, the School and Mass Education Department has directed district education officers to conduct a fresh investigation and submit a report on the absentees. The fresh directive was issued after some district education officers reported that there were no absentee teachers or employees in their respective districts.

Those teachers who have remained on leave without any prior permission will not be allowed to join duty while the agreement of contractual teachers will not be renewed, the letter of the school and mass education department read.

Though the department has assured action against the defaulters, concerns have been raised on how the teachers remained absent from their duties for so many years and why did the department not take any action earlier.