Chandigarh, December 28
Caught in a poll frenzy the Congress-led Punjab Government is probably now looking at votes even through primary schoolchildren. Though the kids cannot cast vote, pre-poll sops have been passed onto them also. Children will have to attend school for one hour less daily, making their teachers, the voters, the happiest of the lot. This is among the four major benefits the government intends to pass on to teachers.

Well-placed sources said today all decisions would be implemented when the schools re-open after the winter break in January.

The decision to reduce teaching time by one hour for primary schoolchildren, defies logic as the education system in Punjab is already in a state of mess. A senior educationist said after years teachers had been appointed in government schools and now was the time to consolidate upon the lost time.

Not only this, the government will also implement the much-awaited decision to have a holiday in all government schools across the state on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month. The Education Minister, Mr Pratap Singh Bajwa, had made this announcement on September 5 at Teachers’ Day functions in his constituency, but it was never implemented. This was reportedly stone-walled by senior bureaucrats, including the Chief Secretary, Mr K.R. Lakhanpal, who wanted that the teachers should teach more. Now, in poll-mode, the government has finally taken a decision to allow this additional holiday for more than one lakh teachers-read voters-from next month onwards.

Also a decision has been taken that the 900 applications pending for mid-term transfers, will be accepted. The government is now drawing up fresh lists for transfers and promotions of teachers. Sources say everything will be done before the Election Commission imposes the model code of conduct that will debar the government from all passing on all such benefits. The model code of conduct is expected to be imposed anytime after January 3.

Also the proverbial Damocle’s sword that hangs over the heads of teachers and Principals for having performance-based review for place of posting has been watered down. The government has now decided that a review will be done after seeing the performance for three consecutive years and not just one year as was the case presently. The system was aimed at bringing about responsibility for teachers, especially in rural areas where they enjoy the in-famous reputation of not going to school.