Proxies used by teachers in villages
The proxy teachers get paid a small amount for their services
Visakhapatnam: Proxy teachers teaching in government primary schools in place of the regular ones who reside in cities with their families, is commonplace in remote villages of Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts. The proxy teachers get paid a small amount for their services.
Recently, a project officer of the integrated tribal development agency in Parvathipuram suspended 25 teachers.
Many regular teachers are reluctant to go to remote villages, and instead, appoint local youth in such schools by paying around Rs 1,500 per month to work on their behalf.
A teacher from Sathakaviti mandal in Srikakulam, for instance, is involved in politics and is the one handling matters on behalf his wife, who is a sarpanch. He has appointed a woman in his place to take care of his job at the school.
Yet another lady teacher, required to work in Gummalakshmipuram mandal, lives in Vizianagaram and operates private chit funds from her home. Such teachers even give monthly bribes to district officers, say sources.
Due to lack of educational officers at the mandal level, the state has been unable to control irregularities. Most MEO posts are vacant in these districts and all responsibilities are being entrusted to headmasters, who are unable to do justice to both jobs.
District educational officer of Vizianagaram, K. Krishna Rao, said, “We won’t accept any irregularities. Action will be taken against such teachers. Recently, we have suspended some of them and will keep a tab on such cases.”
Recently, the project officer of ITDA Parvathipuram suspended around 29 (EARLIER in second para IT SAID 25... WHAT IS THE NUMBER??) teachers, who have sent proxy teachers in their place, and has urged district authorities to take action against them.
Komarada, Kurupam, Giyammavalasa, Gummalakshmi puram mandals in Vizianagaram; Hukumpeta, KD Peta, Chintapalli, Araku and some other mandals in Visakhapatnam; and Santhakaviti, Vangara, Palakonda and Sethammapeta mandals in Srikakulam district have some very remote villages.