New model code of conduct for school teachers

Kolkata: The state Education department is on the process of bringing in a new model code of conduct for the school teachers of the state. The draft of the code of conduct has already been readied and will be sent to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her approval.

An official in the state school Education department on conditions of anonymity said that as per recommendations a teacher will have to have two years teaching experience before being made permanent. The police verification report supporting his/her good conduct will also be taken into consideration for permanency. In the present rules, a teacher is made permanent after one year of teaching.

"The department will check whether there is any crime antecedent on the part of the school teacher before making him/ her permanent. The police verification certificate should be issued by the Kolkata Police Commissioner in case of a teacher working in Kolkata while in the cases of districts, the Superintendents of Police will have to give such verification certificates," the official said.

Discipline, regularity and timely attendance of the teachers, taking part in the prayers on a regular basis will be part of the recommendation." A teacher will not be able to take part in any sort of election without approval of the concerned department. He should not give private tuitions or be engaged in other business activities," the official said elaborating on the draft.

Sources in the Education department further said that the draft recommends no smoking during school hours, not taking students for any function or activities without the written consent of guardians, conducting parents-teachers meetings from time to time, behaving politely with the students, not instigate a student to take part in communalism or award corporal punishment of any nature to a student.

The draft also recommends that if there is allegations of dereliction of duty then the Secondary Board can suo moto initiate legal proceedings against the offender.