Night schools' SSC syllabus hit as teachers barred from working two shifts

After a recent government policy barring teachers from working for both day and night schools together from 2017, the night school principals association has alleged that the handful of remaining teachers cannot complete 2018 SSC syllabus.

It has also affected practical and internal written exams that are conducted before the board exams. The SSC written examination will begin from March 1.

Last year, many teachers' organisations had protested alleging that night school teachers were rendered jobless by the government. However, the state education department clarified that teachers working in two shifts such as day and night schools, were asked to work only in one shift.

Restricting teachers of day schools from working the night shift had put many night school heads in dilemma. According to them, new teachers who were appointed late in night schools after academic year started could not handle adult students.

Chandrakant Mhatre, President of Maharashtra State Night school principals association, "This policy has affected not only preparing students for SSC exams, but many night schools have had to face difficulty in conducting internal exams."

Sudha Jadhav (name changed), principal of a night school, said, "The government did sent teachers in some night schools, including mine, after two teachers were removed in 2017. But they had no good experience of handling older adults. The new teachers have experience of teaching small kids and cannot handle adult students. Our students' syllabus could not be completed by them."

ANXIOUS STUDENTS 

• One of the adults studying at a night school said, "I joined night school only because teachers were good in teaching. But the good teachers were removed and teachers who taught younger children were brought in. We were not able to gel with those teachers. Also the new teachers were not able to complete our portion. Now I am worried whether I will pass my SSC exam."