'Drunk' PTI teacher under probe after students' complaint in Fatehabad

In a worrying incident at Government Senior Secondary School at Dhani Gopal village in Bhuna tehsil in Fatehabad district, students have raised complaints about their physical education teacher (PTI) Jitender Singh, who has allegedly been drinking alcohol during school hours, creating a disruptive environment on the premises.

Disturbed by the teacher's behaviour, students anonymously reported the matter to the authorities, requesting legal action against him and his removal from the school.

Following the complaints, on Monday, District Education Officer (DEO) Sangeeta Bishnoi and Block Education Officer (BEO) Narendra Sharma visited the school to investigate the matter. However, they were informed by an insider that the teacher had been tipped off, and by the time the officials arrived, Jitender Singh had already fled the school. Despite several attempts to reach him, his phone was switched off.

The officials then talked to students to know the extent of the issue. It was revealed that Singh had been working as a PTI teacher at the school for the past six years and had developed drinking habit, which affected his ability to maintain discipline and engage students in physical activities.

According to students, the teacher's alcohol consumption was making them feel unsafe, and the school environment was deteriorating as a result.

Officials reviewed his duty records and were shocked to find that Singh had been regularly absent from work while still being marked present. The situation was complicated by the teacher's local connections, as villagers were hesitant to openly oppose him. However, the students and faculty strongly urged the Education Department to take strict disciplinary action in this regard, including transferring the teacher from the school.

The DEO said once the investigation was completed, appropriate action would be taken against the teacher. A formal inquiry would be conducted based on the findings from the inspection and the complaints. The principal, Mukesh Kumar, and other local authorities are also involved in ensuring that the matter is dealt with swiftly to restore discipline and ensure a safe learning environment for the students.