Ahmedabad DEO Cracks Down On Nataraj School, 11 Classes Shut Over Attendance Irregularities

The District Education Officer (DEO) has taken action against Nataraj School in Odhav after a surprise inspection allegedly uncovered major irregularities, including pressure on teachers to record false online attendance for students and the withholding of service benefits due to staff.

Following the inspection, 11 classes of the school have been ordered to close with immediate effect, while the DEO office has sent a detailed report to higher authorities recommending a 100 per cent cut in the school's grant and cancellation of its recognition.

Surprise Checks Reveal Attendance Discrepancies

The irregularities came to light during surprise inspections carried out as part of a wider drive against dummy schools in Ahmedabad.

According to the DEO, inspection teams conducted surprise checks several times over the past year and repeatedly found actual student attendance below 50 per cent.

While attendance recorded in school registers and online systems was allegedly higher, many students were found absent from classrooms during physical inspections.

The authorities have treated the repeated discrepancy as a serious irregularity and ordered the closure of 11 classes.

School Challenges Action Before Commissioner

The school administration has submitted a representation against the action to the Commissioner of Schools.

The matter is currently pending before the commissioner, who will take a decision on the school's representation.

Meanwhile, the DEO office has forwarded its report to the higher authorities recommending that the school's entire grant be discontinued and its recognition cancelled.

Teachers Allegedly Pressured To Show False Attendance

The investigation also allegedly found that school administrators pressured teachers to enter attendance for students who were not physically present.

According to the allegations, teachers were instructed to show online attendance of around 50 per cent of students despite their actual absence.

The authorities also found that service-related financial benefits due to teachers had allegedly been withheld.

Teachers' Salary And Service Benefits Held Up

The school administration has been accused of delaying teachers' service benefits, including full salary-related benefits for five years and higher salary-scale benefits applicable after nine years of service.

According to the DEO's findings, files concerning these benefits were allegedly kept pending on various grounds even after the prescribed periods had passed.

The school was issued notices three times over the alleged irregularities, but authorities said the responses were not satisfactory.

DEO Recommends Permanent Closure

After finding the school prima facie responsible for serious irregularities, the education authorities directed the administration to release the pending benefits owed to teachers.

The DEO office has also submitted a final report to the higher authorities recommending permanent closure of the school and cancellation of its recognition.

Further action is expected once the competent authorities examine the report and the school's representation.