Guwahati, Feb. 8: Dispur has decided to launch a toll free helpline number to enable students, parents and the public to register complaints about teachers bunking classes and various kinds of indiscipline in educational institutions in the state.

Sources said education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has been receiving messages on his mobile phone every morning from various people complaining about indiscipline in schools and colleges. Though such messages are very disturbing, the education department cannot initiate action since these are not considered official complaints.

The situation has reached such a pass that last week Sarma had to personally ask the principal of a high school in Dibrugarh district to maintain discipline in his school. The minister’s action came after he received a message that students of the school were loitering outside the campus during school hours.

“Once the helpline is installed, anyone can officially lodge complaints against schools, colleges, teachers and students. It will be a 24x7 helpline and identity of complainants will be kept secret.

The background and purpose of the complainants will be properly verified and scanned to prevent the education department entertaining false complaints,” the source said.

Officials in the directorates of elementary education, secondary education and higher education said there have been allegations of teachers not attending classes, indiscipline in schools and colleges, rowdy behaviour of students and corporal punishment by teachers.

“The problem with these kinds of allegations is that the government cannot initiate action against the culprits for lack of evidence. There have been a few cases when the education department has received formal complaints. The helpline will be of immense help in registering official complaints and formulating future education policy by analysing the nature of complaints,” an official said.

“The helpline can also be used to lodge complaints aga-inst corrupt practices resorted to by education department officials,” the source said.

An official said the education department was chalking out a comprehensive project on using technology to check corruption and irregularities. Sarma has already instructed the officials and employees of the department to become techno savvy and use technology to the optimum level, he added.

“Teachers’ practice of leaving colleges early has been controlled to a good extent after the government installed electronic and automated attendance register machines in colleges,” he said.

Sources said if things go according to plan, the helpline could also be used by teachers and students to know the status of the department’s schemes, appointment process and examination results.