The Gujarat government informed the legislative assembly on Wednesday that 150 schoolteachers have been dismissed since 2019 for unauthorized absence.

Of these, 134 teachers from government-run and grant-in-aid schools were dismissed between 2019 and 2022, while 16 others were recently terminated for unauthorized absence, according to state Education Minister Kuber Dindor.

During the first day of the assembly’s monsoon session, Congress MLA Kanti Kharadi inquired about the number of schoolteachers from Patan and Banaskantha districts receiving salaries despite living abroad. He also questioned the actions taken against such teachers.

Kharadi cited the case of Bhavnaben Patel, a teacher from Panchha Primary School in Danta, Banaskantha, who allegedly remained on the government payroll despite residing in the US for nearly eight years. The education department initiated an inquiry earlier this month, and Patel was dismissed after the report confirmed her unauthorized leave since January.

Dindor added that while 12 teachers in Banaskantha and seven in Patan have been on unauthorized leave for over six months, they have not received salaries during this period. Six of these teachers, including Patel, were dismissed the previous day, and two others resigned.

This year, the government has taken action against 130 teachers, including 70 who were absent for three months or more in 2023-24 to 2024-25 and 60 who were absent due to foreign tours. So far, 10 teachers have been dismissed, with more facing action according to the rules.

Dindor noted that teacher attendance is monitored online through Vidya Samiksha Kendra in Gandhinagar, and appropriate actions are being taken against those violating the rules.

Source: PTI

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