Gujarat govt reveals 134 teachers absent without authorised leaves

AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat government, during the opening day of the monsoon session, acknowledged that 134 teachers in the state are absent without authorised leave.

Ten teachers have already been dismissed and action is pending against the others.

The three-day session, the first since the Lok Sabha and assembly by-elections, saw the opposition challenging the government regarding absentee teachers and those living abroad.

During Wednesday’s Vidhan Sabha session, Congress MLA Kanti Kharadi raised a question about how many teachers in Banaskantha and Patan talukas have been living abroad and receiving salaries as of August 10, 2024.

In response, the Education Minister provided details, prompting Congress MLA Shailesh Parmar to further question the government’s action on absentee teachers in Gujarat’s primary schools.

“The data revealed that 176 teachers have gone abroad, with mathematics and science teachers being the most frequently absent,” asked Parmar.

The Education Minister in response admitted that since 2019, 134 teachers have been absent without permission.