Calcutta: A Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) circular barring non-educational assignments for teachers has put schools in a spot.

The circular titled "Appointment, service conditions and duties of the teachers in CBSE affiliated schools" specifies the duties of teachers.

"Sec. 27 of RTE Act 2009 emphasises that teachers should be free from deployment to non-educational assignments and enable teachers to spend more time on school and classroom-related activities," the circular states under Duties of the Teachers.

The circular, issued in August, has become a talking point in many schools in the wake of a four-year-old girl's alleged sexual assault at a Regent Park school and the schools' efforts to step up security and surveillance.

The principals of several CBSE schools said teachers have to take additional responsibilities apart from taking classes if institutions are expected to keep an eye on everything happening on the campus. Some said that CCTV cameras were not enough to maintain vigil if teachers are not alert.

In most schools, teachers have the responsibility of overseeing the dispersal of children. "Teachers are on duty at the time of the dispersal of younger children because the identity cards have to be checked before handing them over. Taking care of children outside the classroom is also part of a teacher's job," said Sharmila Bose, the principal of Sushila Birla Girls' School.

At break time, teachers have to take turns to keep watch on the ground to ensure that there are no accidents. Some schools even post teachers in the canteen.

Schools emphasise that a teacher's job is to ensure the "overall development of the child".

"A teacher is responsible from the time the child enters the school till the time he or she leaves. It does not end with only teaching them in class," said Rekha Vaisya, the principal of Bhavan's Gangabux Kanoria Vidyamandir.

In some schools, teachers are put in charge of a floor each to prevent any untoward incidents and each one is responsible and accountable for a particular area.

"The Group D staff ensure that the classrooms are locked after children leave. But it is the responsibility of the teacher in charge of the floor to see that no child loiters about on the floor after school," said the head of a school.

Schools have guards who keep an eye on children but principals are of the opinion that a teacher's presence cannot be replaced by any number of guards.

"There can be office staff watching children but students will be on their guard only when they see teachers monitor their activities," said Rita Chatterjee, the principal of Apeejay Schools.

But some teachers said the circular was aimed at protecting the rights of teachers. In remote areas, the school management often deploys teachers on personal work, he said.

WHAT TEACHERS HAVE TO DO

• Be at the gate during dispersal, especially for younger children
• Be in charge of particular floors 
• Field and canteen duty during recess