Gurgaon Teachers Face Official Inquiry Over Classroom Social Media Reels
Two government school teachers in Gurgaon have come under intense scrutiny after allegations surfaced that they were making social media reels inside their classrooms during official school hours instead of focusing on teaching students. This incident has triggered an official inquiry by the Haryana Education Department, highlighting concerns about professional conduct in educational institutions.
Complaint and Initial Investigation Details
The matter was escalated to the Directorate of Education in Panchkula after a formal complaint, supported by screenshots of the alleged reels, was submitted to the Additional Chief Secretary. Responding promptly, the Directorate instructed district education authorities to thoroughly investigate the incident and demand explanations from both the involved teachers and their respective school heads.
According to preliminary findings, one teacher from a Government Girls Senior Secondary School in NIT-1 and another from a Government Model Senior Secondary School in Sarai were reportedly implicated. Both complaints originated from the same individual, suggesting a pattern of behavior that has raised red flags. Officials confirmed that preliminary inquiry results indicate the teachers were indeed creating reels during scheduled class hours, compromising their teaching responsibilities.
Department Response and New Directives
In reaction to this controversy, the Education Department has issued a stringent directive prohibiting the creation of recreational reels and short videos, along with unnecessary mobile phone usage by teachers during teaching hours. This ban applies to all 378 government primary, middle, high, and senior secondary schools across the district, aiming to curb distractions and maintain educational focus.
District elementary education officer Basant Kumar Hillo emphasized that a detailed report will be submitted to the Directorate upon completion of the investigation. He noted that while similar complaints have emerged in the past, they were typically addressed with warnings. However, the current case has prompted more decisive action to prevent recurrence.
Extended Regulations and Permissions
The latest directive also extends to students and staff, explicitly banning any entertainment-related video content within school premises. However, the order provides a caveat: videos with educational, cultural, or awareness purposes may be allowed, but only after obtaining prior approval from the department and under the supervision of an authorized official. This balanced approach aims to foster responsible use of technology while safeguarding instructional time.
Officials have warned that strict disciplinary measures will be enforced against any violations of these instructions, underscoring the department's commitment to upholding professional standards in schools. The teachers involved were summoned for questioning on Wednesday, though their responses remain undisclosed as the inquiry progresses.
