NEW DELHI: Teachers and principals in Delhi government schools have raised concerns over a clash between remedial classes scheduled during the summer break and the upcoming Census-2027 house-listing exercise, saying the overlapping duties are administratively unmanageable.
The issue escalated after a fresh circular issued on Saturday by the Office of the Charge Census Officer, Ward-27, Begumpur, relieved designated enumerators and supervisors, including school staff, from regular duties between May 16 and June 15 for Census work.
The development comes amid objections from the Government Schools Teachers’ Association (GSTA), which wrote to Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood opposing the Directorate of Education’s order mandating remedial classes till May 23.
The association said the remedial class schedule directly clashes with Census-related responsibilities beginning May 16, making it “technically infeasible” for teachers to simultaneously handle classroom teaching and field-intensive enumeration work.
According to the Census circular, the assigned staff are “deemed relieved” from regular duties and must report directly to their designated Census blocks without requiring separate relieving orders. The order stressed that Census duty is a statutory obligation under the Census Act, 1948, and directed heads of schools and controlling officers to ensure full cooperation.
It further prohibited recalling staff for routine assignments during the Census period and warned that obstruction could attract penal provisions.
Teachers’ representatives argued that the directive effectively contradicts the education department’s insistence on compulsory attendance for remedial classes.
GSTA general secretary Ajayveer Yadav said both assignments are time-bound and demand full attention, making simultaneous implementation impractical. The association urged the government to either conclude remedial classes by May 16 or make attendance optional without coercion.