Kolkata: A fresh directive asking BLOs to resume home visits has worried heads of state-run schools ahead of final summative exams, expected to begin at the end of Nov. Schools that struggled last year as teachers were deployed on SIR duties are considering alternative arrangements again to ensure classes and examinations are not disrupted.The Election Commission has asked BLOs to visit homes of voters whose names have been deleted. School authorities said even short-term deployment of teachers could affect syllabus completion, revision classes, question-paper preparation and exam arrangements, particularly in schools already functioning with limited teaching staff.At Metropolitan Institution (Bowbazar branch), 11 of 13 teachers were assigned SIR duties last year. Teacher-in-charge Kalidas Halder said, “We haven’t been able to complete the syllabus yet, as over the past year we have been struggling with a teacher shortage due to SIR and census duties. Currently, all our teachers are taking classes regularly, but if the same situation arises again, we don’t know whether the syllabus for each subject will be completed. We have only a few days left to prepare for the final exams.”A central Kolkata school head said the school may follow an alternative schedule or hold combined classes if necessary. “I don’t think a similar situation will arise this time because BLOs will be assigned specific duties to visit only the residences of those whose names have been deleted. A small group of teachers will be absent for a few days, which I think is manageable. Our subject-wise syllabus is almost covered, and we have enough time for revision work before the final summative exams,” the school head said.At Naraindass Bangur Memorial Multipurpose School, 12 of 28 teachers were assigned SIR duty last year. Headmaster Sanjay Barua said, “This is not just an issue of a teacher shortage; a severe problem we faced was holding classes in subjects where there is only a single teacher. From classes 6 to 10, we have single English and Bengali teachers who were assigned to this duty, which was the real challenge that we faced.”Another school head said the late Durga Puja would leave little time before exams, making paper-setting and exam duty difficult if teachers are absent. Schools may again have to redistribute classes among available teachers and adjust routines if large-scale deployment resumes.Most BLOs have yet to receive formal Election Commission communication, though teachers expect instructions after the Puja holidays.A secondary school teacher in Baguiati said, “I have just completed the first phase of census duty, and now, within a few days, I have to start home visits, as my AERO hinted to me. If we are engaged in this work throughout the year, how can we provide quality education to students, most of whom come from underprivileged families? The govt should think about this.”
