Additional Extra Duties of IT Teachers in Punjab

ORDER No. IC(Lit) 1-491/2015.GOVERNMENT OF THE PUNJAB SCHOOL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT is issued. The Honourable Lahore High Court, Lahore disposed of writ petition No.20909/2015 titled Ghulam Murtaza Bhatti etc. Versus Secretary School Education etc. vide order dated 07.07.2015 with the direction as under:

"in view of above. direction is issued to respondent No.1 to decide the application of the petitioner, if pending before him, in either way strictly in accordance with law without being prejudice by the order of this Court within ten (10) days from the receipt of the order and submit report to Deputy Registrar (Judicial, of this Court'. "

2. the grievance of the petitioners, SST/SSE (IT/Computer Science), is against the duties allocated to them by the District Authorities other than teaching of computer subject in class rooms.
3. In compliance of the Court's order, the petitioners were afforded an opportunity of personal hearing and heard at length. The available record was perused and following facts revealed;
After promulgation of Devolution Plan in year 2001, School Education has become a devolved subject, therefore, all the matters at District level pertaining to School Education come under the purview of District Government;
Main Points regarding duties assigned to IT Teachers
The SSTs/SSEs (IT/Computer Science) are appointed in High / Higher Secondary Schools for teaching computer subject to the students; The petitioners during the personal hearing pointed out that in addition to teaching computer to the students, they are forced to compile data for the following, however, no payment is made to them for these assignments: • Online registration of 9th class. • Submission of replies on E-mails during summer vacation. • On line submission for admission in 9th & 10'" class. • Online submissions for admission in 8th class, preparation of exam clusters & results. • Preparation of record of UPE / USE. • Election data entry. • Recruitment data. • Purchase of wheat by Food Department. iv. Prior to online submission of admission forms for 8th, 9th & 10th classes, the forms were completed manually by the teachers and were submitted in the concerned office. Since launch of the scheme of UPE / USE, teachers are engaged in it; v. The Department has not issued any such direction to the field formation for taking extra duties from the SSTs (IT / Computer Science);

vi. EDO (Edu) Sheikhupura has failed to submit reply on the observations raised by the petitioners, however, the petitioners have also failed to submit any such letter issued by the Administrative Department wherein the district authorities have been asked to take any such assignments from the SSTs (IT / C.S).

4. It reveals from the perusal of record that most of the assignments highlighted by the petitioners pertain to the schools. Prior to online submission of admission forms, all exercises were completed by the teachers. The time table presented by the petitioner (Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhatti) showed that out of 09 periods, he has 04 vacant periods everyday which reflects the quantum of load of work he has. The School Education Department, Govt. of the Punjab has not issued any such instructions to the field formation to take extra duty from computer / IT Teachers. However, there is no bar on the district authorities / concerned Head Teacher to assign job to any teacher related to his duty, keeping in view its nature and load of work. Most of the duties reflected in para(iii) above have linkage with IT and use of technology for increase in efficiency of School Education Sector. 5. NOW THEREFORE, I, Secretary School Education, hereby dispose of the representation of the petitioners, as there are no instructions issued by the Department for taking additional duties from SST/SSE (IT / Computer Science).