Director general school education on Thursday dismissed 148 government school teachers across the state, including 45 from the district, for unexplained long absence.
DGSE Kahan Singh Pannu had issued show cause notices to these 148 teachers on February 2, giving them 30 days to explain their long absence from schools, failing which further action in the matter, as deemed fit, would be taken.
However, as the teachers did not respond, and keeping in view that their unauthorised absence had resulted in loss of studies of students and therefore negatively impacted the teaching-learning atmosphere in government schools, the DGSE discharged them.
Talking to Hindustan Times, Pannu said, “Teachers have not replied to the notices issued to them, neither in written nor through a visit to the head office. Therefore, we have dismissed the teachers, as their unauthorised absence has resulted in big loss to students and left a negative impact on other teachers in government schools of Punjab.”
Anoop Kumar Passi, principal of Government Senior Secondary School, Isewal, said, “This is a great step taken up by the DGSE. However, these posts must be filled immediately, so that students' studies do not suffer further. This step will deter other teachers from going on long leaves and not joining back duty.”