Now ZP teachers roped in for army recruitment drive in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Altogether 25 teachers have been roped from various zilla parishad (ZP) schools in the district for the ongoing army recruitment drive.Loaded with a range of other non-academic works, this new task has evoked sharp reactions from teacher unions.While the teachers have been called in rotation, the duty hours of some of them begin at 11 pm."The authorities are considering ZP teachers as bonded laborers. The fresh non-academic work will affect students and their interests. There should be an end to loading teachers with non-academic work," a teacher said on condition of anonymity.The duty related to the army recruitment drive in question began on Tuesday and is scheduled to continue till March 15.Education officer (primary) of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar ZP, Jayashri Chavan, said the ZP administration has sought services of a group of teachers during the recruitment drive."Teachers are expected to assist aspirants with filling some forms and other related work. Based on the requisition, we have provided teachers from different talukas," she said.Vijay Salkar, president of teachers' union, Shikshak Samiti, said the ZP administration should reconsider its decision to rope in teachers for the army recruitment drive. "Instead of lowering the burden of non-academic work on teachers for the benefit of students, the authorities are increasing such unproductive work. This is injustice towards teachers as well as students," he said.ZP CEO Ankit said the army headquarters requested deputation of ZP staff proficient in Marathi language to assist candidates in the recruitment drive."It was expected that as far as possible members of non-teaching staff from ZP school would be sent during the recruitment drive. The duty allotted is not binding as such for teachers and we will not consider any action against them if they cannot attend for valid reasons," he said.