The Democratic Teachers' Front (DTF) has launched a sharp critique against the Punjab government, accusing it of exploiting educational institutions for political gain. The controversy centers around a state-wide 'Mega Parent-Teacher Meeting' scheduled for Saturday across all government schools.
PTMs Transformed into Political Platforms, Allege Teachers
In a strongly-worded statement, the DTF asserted that the official purpose of the program—to allow teachers to discuss student progress reports with parents—has been completely subverted. The organization claims these meetings have been converted into forums for political propaganda within the sacred spaces of schools.
DTF leaders Vikramdev Singh, the state president, and Mohinder Kaurianwali, the general secretary, addressed the media with their grievances. They revealed that the government conducted special workshops for teachers ahead of the mega event. In these sessions, educators were allegedly instructed to promote the government's narrative of an 'education revolution' to parents, a claim the DTF vehemently disputes.
A Contradiction Between Claims and Ground Reality
The teachers' body presented data to counter the government's narrative, highlighting a troubling decline in the state's education system. They pointed out that student enrolment has dropped in 17 districts of Punjab. Furthermore, they highlighted the critical issue of hundreds of schools operating with just a single teacher, severely compromising the quality of education.
'On one hand, the government champions an education revolution, and on the other, it prioritizes political publicity over genuine academic improvement,' the DTF leaders stated. They argued that the academic environment has deteriorated so significantly that it is directly causing the steady fall in student numbers.
Systemic Issues and a Call for Change
The DTF's condemnation extends beyond the PTM issue. They listed several systemic problems plaguing government schools:
- Routine academic activities are constantly disrupted by being turned into grand events.
- Initiatives like Mission Samarth and CEP were described as substandard, pulling students away from meaningful learning.
- Teachers are frequently diverted from classrooms to workshops, election duties, and other non-academic assignments throughout the year.
- The Punjab Education Department has not issued an academic calendar for the past three years, which the DTF says shows a blatant lack of planning and concern for student welfare.
The body concluded with a firm demand: schools must not be used as platforms for political publicity. They called upon the government to shift its focus seriously towards creating a healthy, productive, and politically neutral academic environment in Punjab's government educational institutions.
