Attendance app question costs teacher her job

Janjgir | Correspondent: The female teacher in the ongoing viral video from Janjgir-Champa got suspended for raising questions regarding the online attendance system in Schools. In the reported video, the teacher questioned the monitoring of teachers' attendance and performance via an app and demanded that the work of officials also be made public and available online. Taking the matter seriously after the video surfaced, the Education Department took this decision.

In the viral video, the teacher, identified as Nirmala Komal, is seen expressing her displeasure with the online attendance system. She is posted at a high school in the Nawagarh development block. It is reported that she recorded the video after arriving at the school around 11:00 AM on August 29.

Questions raised about monitoring teachers

In the video, the teacher stated that if teachers' attendance and work are being monitored via an app, there should similarly be an online record of the work done by officials, ranging from the District Collector to others. She urged the government to focus on improving systems in other departments rather than keeping teachers under surveillance. The teacher also highlighted the difficulties faced while recording online attendance, noting that teachers sometimes meet with accidents in their haste to reach school on time or mark their attendance.

Issue of stray cattle on roads raised

The teacher also mentioned the problem of stray cattle roaming the roads. She demanded that information regarding officials' visits, programs, and work activities be made public. Nirmala Komal called for an end to the app-based monitoring of teachers, asserting that they are fully discharging their responsibilities. She remarked that if the government wishes to improve the system, it should also pay attention to the functioning of other departments.

Department takes action after video goes viral

The Education Department took cognizance of the matter after the video went viral on social media. District Education Officer Ashok Sinha stated that action would be taken in accordance with the rules following an investigation into the video. The teacher has been suspended.