With election season underway, teachers from unaided schools in Mumbai’s suburbs are feeling the strain, as a significant number have been assigned poll duty training. Many educators have received show-cause notices for not attending these sessions, and some face FIRs from the district collector’s office. Administrators argue that heavy requisitioning of teachers, particularly ahead of the Diwali break, disrupts school operations. For example, Children’s Academy, which has three schools, reported that over 350 of its 450 teachers were called for duty.
Rohan Bhatt, Chairman of the Children’s Academy Group, stated that while many teachers have attended the training, others missed sessions and are now seeking legal advice. Bhatt, along with other school leaders, has questioned the heavy reliance on staff from unaided schools for election duty. Some educators expressed frustration, citing repeated calls for duty since the Lok Sabha elections. Teachers from JBCN International School in Andheri, for instance, missed training due to an inter-school competition, which led to individual show-cause notices.
Mumbai Suburban District’s Chief Election Officer, Rajendra Kshirsagar, clarified that show-cause notices are issued to remind teachers of their national duty and ensure adequate staffing. According to Kshirsagar, sufficient manpower is crucial for operating the 7,574 polling booths in the region. Despite this, school officials emphasize the conflict with academic commitments, stating they’ve arranged alternate training dates to balance both obligations.
