Bhubaneswar, Aug. 12: Teachers training programmes, which are meant to improve the quality of education, are apparently hampering the smooth conduct of classes in many schools across the state.

In the past few days, many teachers have been busy attending training programmes conducted by the school and mass education department. These programmes require teachers to stay out of schools for days together. As a result, the schools are left to function with just one or two teachers.

On Thursday, a premier government high school in the capital was seen running with just four teachers.

“Three teachers have gone on training, two have been disengaged and one teacher has gone on leave after his salary was withheld,” said the headmaster of the school.

“If this is the situation in the capital, one can imagine the condition of schools in the interiors, which function with just two or three teachers,” he added.

“Classes do get neglected but these programmes are unavoidable. Although some teachers are substituted for those going for trainings, they are not of much help as they are not subject teachers,” said Jenamani Nayak, a senior teacher.

Apart from these training programmes, large-scale suspension has adversely affected the system that is already struggling with insufficient staff. Teachers are being removed on grounds of disobedience, negligence of duty, late arrival, unauthorised leave, poor organisation of training programmes and late attendance for training programmes.

Disciplinary action has been initiated against 24 teachers of Sundergarh district this week alone. At least 129 teachers have faced the axe between June 28 and August 6, said an official of the school and mass education department. The numbers are likely to swell over 500 he added.

The additional responsibility of midday meals to schools, too, has added to the burden of the teachers. Earlier, self-help groups used to handle the matter directly. However, following the transfer of the midday meal responsibility from the women and child welfare department to the school and mass education department, the self-help groups and the school headmaster concerned are required to open a joint account. The school management committee has been handed the additional responsibility of ensuring the quality check.

“It’s physically draining definitely. Why should a teacher getting a pittance of about Rs 4,000 be made to work so much?” asked Sarojini Sahoo, a teacher.

“Teachers are not able to cope up with the pressure. They are overworked, underpaid and threatened. This has dangerously hampered the educational atmosphere of the state At least 33 per cent schools in the state are one-teacher schools. Such schools exist not only in rural areas but also semi-urban areas,” said eminent educationist Abani Boral.

When the state government has failed to provide even one teacher per class, what is the point in exhausting the poor schoolteachers with all such activities. Why should they be burdened with supervising the midday meals?” asked an eminent educationist Abani Boral.

The mindless suspension of teachers has also come under heavy criticism from all sections.

“The bad teachers need to be wiped out but there is simply no reason to malign them. The present officials are busier publicising how many teachers they suspended. The matter should not be publicised unless it’s a case of corruption,” said Boral.