20K teachers found away from classrooms on working days in Telangana schools

It is not just students’ attendance that is a cause for concern in government and local body schools across the State. Teacher attendance has also become an issue, with thousands of teachers staying away from their basic teaching duties.

On any given working day, around 20,000 teachers are found to be away from classrooms. This accounts for 15 per cent of the total 1,37,011 teaching workforce in government and local body schools in the State.

For instance, according to Education department records, a staggering 11,041 teachers across the State went on leave on October 1. Sangareddy



recorded the highest number, with 597 teachers on leave on a single day. It was followed by Rangareddy with 538, Hyderabad with 435 and Medchal-Malkajgiri with 206.

In addition to those on leave, a whopping 4,160 teachers were absent without leave (AWOL). Vikarabad district recorded the highest number at 378, followed by Rangareddy with 260, Suryapet with 236 and Hyderabad with 203 on October 1.

Overall, teacher absenteeism recorded on the Facial Recognition System (FRS) was highest in Rangareddy (798), followed by Sangareddy (755), Nalgonda (751), Nizamabad (680) and Hyderabad (638).