– Just 4 Computers in 4 Years: Teachers Enraged by Mandate for ₹30,000 Estimated Expenditure to Gain ‘Cheap Publicity’ – Officials Evade Responsibility by Issuing Unsigned Letter
February 24 : The ‘Unboxing Celebration’ (inaugural festivities) scheduled to commence in Punjab’s government schools from February 21 has snowballed into a major controversy. Rejecting the government’s ‘digital drama,’ computer teachers have announced that they will welcome the new computers not with flowers, but with posters showcasing the Education Minister’s ‘false promises’—claims that have remained confined to social media posts for the past four years.
State leaders of the Computer Faculty Association, including Pradeep Kumar Maluka, Jaspal Fatehgarh Sahib, Lakhwinder Singh Ferozepur, Pawan Sharma Jalandhar, Harcharan Singh, Jatinder Singh Sodhi, Rakesh Saini Pathankot, and Paramveer Singh Pammi, leader of the Computer Teachers Hunger Strike Struggle Committee, questioned the functioning of the government machinery. They revealed that the department sent a letter to school heads to organize these events, yet the letter lacks the signature of any senior official. While officials are evading accountability, school heads are now forcing computer teachers to note down this unsigned letter and complete the arrangements. The teachers questioned the basis on which they are being coerced when the department’s own high-ranking officials refuse to take responsibility.
Political Stunt Exposed: No Government Funding; Teachers to Spend Estimated ₹30,000 from Own Pockets
Surprisingly, orders have been issued to celebrate the opening of just four computer boxes as a ‘historic achievement’ through grand ceremonies in the presence of MLAs. According to the teachers, while an estimated expenditure of ₹30,000 is being cited for these ceremonies, the government has not allocated any funds. Consequently, teachers are being forced to bear this entire cost personally. Teachers emphasized that with annual examinations scheduled for February and March, such hollow celebrations will inevitably result in a significant loss of study time for students.
No Posts in Middle Schools: No Recruitment for 4 Years
Computer teacher leaders highlighted the grim ground reality, stating that there are no sanctioned posts for the Computer Science subject in Punjab’s Middle Schools. To provide computer education to these students, teachers from nearby Government High or Senior Secondary Schools must visit for two days a week. Furthermore, no new recruitment of computer teachers has taken place in the last four years, leading to widespread resentment among the staff.
