‘Election work not for teachers’: Maharashtra education minister urges CM to exempt them from BLO duty

Stressing on the impact of non-academic work being imposed on teachers, Maharashtra’s education minister Dadaji Bhuse has urged chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to exempt school teachers from Booth Level (BLO) and other election-related work.

The education minister, in a letter to the chief minister of Maharashtra, said that the Right to Education Act 2009 (RTE) states the primary duty of teachers as ‘teaching’. However, in recent times, they are being engaged in BLO and other non-academic work on a large scale, Bhuse wrote in the letter.

The non-academic work imposed on teachers will directly affect the progress of students and overall quality of schooling, the education minister said.

'Election time waste teachers' time'

“According to the Right to Education Act 2009 (RTE), the main duty of teachers is 'teaching'. However, in recent times, teachers are being engaged in BLO and other non-academic work on a large scale. Due to this, students miss regular classes and face difficulties in completing the curriculum,” Bhuse added.

How can teachers focus on teaching and improving educational quality if they are being forced to do non-academic jobs such as BLO, and other election-led works, he questioned.

Moreover, the minister also suggested that instead of teachers, the election-related work can be done by “manpower” from various departments such as Anganwadi workers, Talathi, Gram Sevak, Krishi Sevak, postman, health workers, Asha Tai, and municipal employees.

“Since this manpower is available in large quantities in the state, teachers should be avoided from being used there,” he said.

Placing his top priority on the future and educational quality of the students, Bhuse said that the work of a teacher is to teach in classrooms.

“Election tasks waste teachers' time and students suffer academic losses. Also, capable personnel are available in other departments for election-related tasks. They should be used as an alternative,” he urged the CM.