Tamil Nadu government has decided to deploy more than 3.5 lakh teachers for Assembly election duty. It is said the government's decision is likely to affect the functioning of schools. This is so because the government is mulling the extension of the academic session till June if schools are reopened in January or February.
The Election Commission of India had already started poll-related work for Tamil Nadu Assembly elections 2021, including the release of the draft roll and the government issued an order to identify teachers in both government and private schools for election work. Due to the pandemic situation the reliance on teachers would be more than in previous elections, told a senior official from the School Education Department. He said, usually about two lakh teachers will be engaged for election work. But for this election, an additional 1.5 lakh teachers will be deployed due to a proposed increase in the number of booths to ensure social distancing.
Senior official said teachers will be used in for various poll-related duties, including as assistant returning officers, block-level officers, and poll booth in-charge. “The poll work will go on for at least one month, right from training till the declaration of results,” he added. The State government is planning to reopen schools in January or February and the academic session could be extended till June to help students cover portions for the board examination. If the teachers are deployed for poll work, it will affect the school work, Tamil Nadu Teachers Association President PK Ilamaran pointed out.
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