S Gopal Puri
Hamirpur:
Hamirpur Deputy Commissioner Amarjeet Singh has formally written a letter to the Himachal Pradesh Education Secretary urging that whenever students are given a holiday, both teaching and non-teaching staff should also be exempted from attending school.
In his communication, the Deputy Commissioner highlighted that compelling staff to attend school on days when students are absent — whether due to bad weather, government holidays or administrative orders — creates unnecessary inconvenience.
A news report in a vernacular media outlet quoted Amarjeet Singh as saying that the “practice was neither practical nor in line with employee welfare”.
Deputy Commissioner cites rationale behind appeal
The Deputy Commissioner pointed out that schools without students served little functional purpose during holidays, and that forcing teachers and clerical staff to remain present only added to fatigue and low morale. Aligning staff holidays with student holidays, he argued, would improve efficiency, ensure parity and build trust among employees working under the Education Department.
If the proposal is accepted, teachers, administrative staff and support staff across Himachal Pradesh may get the benefit of synchronised holidays. This could not only ease their workload but also strengthen the perception of fairness in leave policies. Educationists have long argued that parity between students’ and staff holidays is crucial to maintaining a healthy work environment in schools.
Similar concerns have been raised in other states too. In Haryana, for instance, debates surfaced when schools were closed for students due to severe weather, but staff were still asked to report.
Critics argued this amounted to a double standard in policy application. Hamirpur’s initiative may now spark wider discussions in Himachal Pradesh on making holiday policies more staff-friendly.
Education Department yet to respond to letter
The Education Department is yet to respond formally to the DC’s recommendation. However, sources indicate that the proposal is being seriously examined, given the practical challenges highlighted. A final decision is likely in the coming weeks.
If implemented, Hamirpur could become the first district in the state to ensure that staff holidays are uniformly aligned with student holidays, setting a precedent for others to follow.
