Controversy Erupts as Chhattisgarh Teachers Ordered to Monitor Stray Dogs in Schools

Across Chhattisgarh, a recent government directive requiring teachers to monitor stray dogs on school grounds has ignited significant backlash. Various teacher associations and political figures have condemned the order as demeaning to educators and are calling for its immediate cancellation.

The Chhattisgarh Public Education Directorate issued the controversial circular on November 20, instructing teaching staff to vigilantly observe stray dogs that wander in and around educational facilities.

According to the directive, teachers must immediately report such dogs to their local Gram Panchayat, Janpad Panchayat, Municipal Corporation, or the designated Dog Catcher Nodal Officer.

Additionally, the mandate requires teachers to implement appropriate measures to prevent stray dogs from entering school premises.

The order has met with fierce resistance from teacher unions, who argue that such directives undermine the professional dignity of educators who are already overwhelmed with numerous non-teaching responsibilities.

In an interview with NDTV, Kajesh Kumar, vice president of a teachers' association, stated: "Teachers bear responsibility for students' welfare. However, issuing directives to monitor stray dogs is inappropriate. We're already managing multiple administrative tasks. Adding dog-monitoring duties is simply unacceptable."

Many school principals and headmasters have voiced their concerns, noting they are already inundated with School Inspection Reports, election duties, surveys, and administrative documentation. They describe this additional responsibility as both "absurd" and "unworkable."

Former Deputy Chief Minister and senior Congress leader TS Singh Deo criticized the directive, labeling it "misguided" and "unfair to teachers."

He emphasized that teachers should focus "100 per cent on school education," acknowledging that while exceptional duties like census work might occasionally be assigned, tasks unrelated to academics should not be imposed.

Singh Deo called for immediate withdrawal of the decision, stressing that teachers already facing staffing shortages cannot reasonably be expected to monitor stray dogs.

This controversy emerges amid a critical teacher shortage in Chhattisgarh, with 22,464 teaching positions unfilled. Education Department data reveals 7,957 vacant positions in primary schools, 7,734 in middle schools, and 6,773 in high and higher secondary schools.

These vacancies have heightened concerns about declining educational quality, particularly in rural and remote areas where many schools operate with only one or two teachers.