The director general school education (DGSE), Punjab, Kahan Singh Pannu has sent instructions to the heads of government schools that in their absence the charge of the institution should be handed over to the senior-most teacher.
Talking to Hindustan Times, Pannu said, "It has come
to my notice that many school heads when on leave give charge of the institution to their favourite ones which is not right and against the rules and regulations. So we have instructed the school heads that in their absence the charge of the school should be given to the senior-most teacher of the institution. The senior-most teacher has the experience and capability to handle the responsibilities of the school in the absence of the school head."
Kamaljit Kaur, a government schoolteacher, said, "I am the senior-most teacher in the school but the school head has never given me the responsibility to handle the school in her absence. However, she gives the charge to the most junior-level teacher who is her relative. So, I think with the latest instructions from the DGSE the senior-most teacher in government schools will get a chance to administrator the institution in the absence of school head."
Anu Sharma, a science teacher in a government school, said, "There is no head in our school and the post is lying vacant from the past eight years. There are three regular teachers, but the junior-most one handles the school every time. Moreover, I am the senior-most teacher and teaching from the past 10 years, but I never got an opportunity to handle the school."
On the condition of anonymity, a principal of a government school said, "There are many government schools in Ludhiana district which are running without school heads and the senior- most teacher is working without any powers in the school. So, I think the higher authorities should give the drawing disbursing powers to the senior-most teacher or the acting head."