Balangir, Nov. 23: Commissioner-cum-secretary of the school and mass education department Aparajita Sarangi completed a two-day tour of Balangir today. She was here in the district to assess the state of affairs of her department.

Today, teachers reported in the schools here well before 9am. Most teachers had resorted to a practice of reaching schools at about 11am and leaving before 3pm.

On first day of her tour yesterday, Aparajita suspended two headmistresses — Anandini Mishra of Police UP School in Balangir and Namita Mahapatra of Chitadunguri UP School in Patnagarh block — for dereliction in duty. She also held up the pay of several others, including the headmaster of Ramai High School in Patnagarh and the headmistress of Guhuriamudha UP School.

Sources said Aparajita made a surprise visit to the Police UP School on the request from some town residents. She found that painting of the school building was being hurriedly done and the dresses had not yet been distributed to the students.

Aparajita suspended the headmistress on the spot as she could not give any satisfactory explanation to the issues. She asked one Uma Panigrahi to take over as the headmistress of the school.

Aparajita then suspended headmistress of Chitadunguri UP School for allegedly not carrying out the department’s order. She had been reportedly transferred to Kusumkani UP School. However, headmistress Namita Mahapatra did not comply with the order to join the new school.

This morning, too, Aparajita visited Rugudipada UP School to find that painting of the school building had not been done and despite availability of funds, repair works were not carried out. She suspended the headmistress.

Later, Aparajita visited the Practicing School and was quite displeased with the state of affairs in the school. She ordered to hold up the pay of two teachers. During her visit to the Prithwiraj High School, some people drew her attention towards the misuse of the school playground. After consulting the district collector, she asked the headmaster to ensure that only students of the school use the playground.

“I have consulted the district collector on this issue. I have asked the headmaster to allow only students in the playground. I will take up the matter of forcible encroachment of school land by criminals with the district administration,” she said.

A dissatisfied Aparajita said all deputations in the district would be cancelled.