Studies hit before board exams as teachers pulled into SIR:Nearly 50,000 educators deployed for voter revision, forcing classes to rely on tutors and lab assistants

With Class 10 and 12 board examinations scheduled in February, teaching in government schools across Madhya Pradesh has been severely disrupted. District collectors have deployed nearly 50,000 regular teachers for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists, leaving schools—especially those with board classes—struggling to function. Most of the teachers assigned to SIR are from Class 1 and 2 cadres, who usually teach Classes 9 to 12. Official orders directed that these teachers be relieved from teaching duties until the SIR process is completed. As a result, academic activity in many schools has come to a near standstill. Primary schools without teachers Teacher unions claim that in several remote districts, even large schools have been left with just two teachers, while in many primary schools, both teachers have been deployed for SIR, leaving no one to teach students.
Out of the state’s 64,000 guest teachers, around 25 percent were also appointed as Assistant BLOs. Although they were relieved on December 18, the last date for filling out enumeration forms, the academic loss has already occurred.
The SIR exercise began on November 4 and was initially scheduled to conclude by February 7, but has now been extended to February 14. Board classes taught by temporary staff “In several schools, 70–80% staff were engaged in SIR. Guest teachers were made Assistant BLOs. With such pressure, result-related penalties should be relaxed”, said KC Pawar, State President, Guest Teachers’ Union Education Department–Election Commission deadlock The Directorate of Public Instruction (DPI) held multiple rounds of discussions with the Election Commission, requesting exemption for Maths and English teachers from SIR duties. Discussions were also held with collectors, but no resolution emerged. DPI Commissioner Shilpa Gupta declined to comment. Joint Election Commissioner RPS Jadaun said the Election Commission does not directly intervene in such matters and that the decision on teacher deployment was left to district collectors. Ground reality in schools Sarojini Naidu Girls Higher Secondary School: Principal Malini Verma is a SIR supervisor. UMS teachers are also on duty; the principal manages school work alongside campaign responsibilities. Board exams begin before SIR ends This overlap has raised serious concerns among educators. Teacher unions warn of poor results “In many large government schools, nearly 90 percent teachers are engaged in SIR. At Chhatarpur Excellence School, even Maths, Physics and English teachers are deployed. If board results suffer, who will take responsibility?”, said Jagdish Yadav, State President, State Teachers’ Union Government’s response School Education Minister Rao Uday Pratap Singh said collectors were advised to spare teachers connected with board classes as much as possible and instead deploy lab assistants, librarians and other non-teaching staff. “We are in constant touch with collectors to ensure board exam preparations are minimally affected”, says Rao Uday Pratap Singh, School Education Minister As February approaches, educators warn that unless immediate corrective steps are taken, the academic future of thousands of students could be at risk.