Faculty members across colleges in Ahmedabad have urged authorities to exempt teachers from Census 2027 duties, arguing that the assignment would add to their already heavy academic workload and disrupt important educational activities.
Teachers Cite Heavy Academic Responsibilities
In a representation submitted to the census directorate, members of the teaching community said faculty in colleges affiliated with government universities are currently engaged in examination-related work, including conducting exams, organizing practicals, evaluating answer sheets, and preparing mark sheets. They emphasized that these tasks must be completed on schedule in line with the academic calendar.
Concerns Over NEP 2020 Implementation
The teachers warned that any diversion from academic work could affect the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. With three years having passed since its rollout, they described the current academic year as a crucial stage in the policy's execution and important for students. They also noted that college faculty members are involved in the admission process for the academic year, including through centralized systems such as the Gujarat Common Admission System (GCAS).
Potential Delays and Inefficiencies
The teaching community cautioned that assigning census duties alongside these responsibilities could cause delays and inefficiencies in both academic and administrative work. They appealed to the authorities to relieve college teachers of census-related assignments so that academic activities can continue without interruption.
This request comes as the government prepares for the massive Census 2027 exercise, which requires significant manpower. However, educators argue that their primary role is to focus on teaching and academic administration, which should not be compromised.
