Dept Order Runs Counter To CM Concern On COVID-19, Says Odisha College Teachers’ Body

Bhubaneswar: The All Odisha Aided College Teachers’ & Employees’ Association (AOACTEA) has strongly objected to the notification by the Higher Education Department directing the teachers and staff to join their duty from June 17.

In a statement on Saturday, AOACTEA working president Manas Purohit said while the Chief Minister, going by the alarming rise in the number of COVID-19 patients in Odisha, has advised the people to take utmost safety precautions against the coronavirus in June and July, the Higher Education Department has gone above his advice and issued the notification forcing the teachers and the staff to join their duty by risking their lives.

“As the students are not allowed to come to the colleges, the teachers and staff will have virtually no work. Rather gathering in the college will increase their chances of contracting the virus,” he pointed out.

Besides, the Higher Education Department order has created confusion as the government has declared closure of all educational institutions till July 31.

Purohit further said the teachers, especially the women, will face problem in commuting to college as most of the public transport vehicles have remained off the road due to poor turnout of the passengers. Besides, the college buildings, which have been used as quarantine centres for the migrant returnees, will put the teachers at high risk, he added.

While the state government has pledged to save the lives of the people against the killer virus, the Higher Education Department has hardly any consideration for the teachers. “The department, which cancelled the final semester examinations of the Plus III and Post Graduate streams on the demand of the students, has not given a serious thought to the plight of the college teachers,” he said.

“The teachers never run away from their duties and responsibilities. They are doing the evaluation works in this crucial juncture for the sake of the students,” he maintained.