Ahead of the first phase of the panchayati raj elections in Himachal Pradesh, the State Election Commission and the Education Department face a major administrative hurdle regarding single-teacher primary schools.
Several government primary schools in rural Sirmaur district are currently operating with just a single teacher whose voter registration falls under a different panchayat jurisdiction. This has triggered uncertainty over how these teachers will cast their votes without leaving their schools entirely abandoned.
According to data from various education blocks, a significant number of teachers are posted in panchayats where polling is scheduled for May 28, but their native voting areas go to the polls during the first phase on May 26.
If these teachers travel to their home constituencies to exercise their franchise, their respective schools will be left completely unattended during working hours.
Lack of alternatives
While granting special casual leave is the standard solution, teachers point out this is only practical if there is another staff member available to hold the fort. The dilemma — In dozens of schools, no second teacher exists. It remains unclear whether these schools will shut down for the day or if responsibilities will be temporarily handed over to Class IV employees or Anganwadi workers.
Current situation on the ground
In the Sangrah Education Block of Sirmaur, temporary orders were reportedly issued authorising Anganwadi workers to supervise students during the teachers’ absence. However, no uniform guidelines have been established across other blocks, fuelling widespread confusion.
Call for immediate action
Teachers’ associations have urged the Education Department and the Election Commission to issue immediate, uniform guidelines that protect both the democratic rights of employees and the academic routine of students. They warned that without timely intervention, numerous single-teacher staff members could be effectively disenfranchised.
The teaching community has also demanded that alternative arrangements be ensured in all schools where only one teacher is posted, so that students’ education does not suffer and no employee is denied participation in the democratic process.
