An experienced primary school teacher commutes approximately 15 kilometers to reach his school, situated in a remote area of Sindh. The school building, consisting of two rooms, lacks doors and a boundary wall. In his role as both the headmaster and the sole teacher at the school, he follows a consistent daily routine. Upon arriving in the morning, he takes it upon himself to clean the classroom, rings the bell to signal the designated time, and leads the morning assembly where he, along with the students, pays respect to the Pakistani flag. Following the assembly, he begins the teaching sessions. He has dedicated more than 25 years to this school, maintaining this same routine. Lacking tech-savviness and struggling with poor eyesight, he seldom uses his basic feature phone. Life of a teacher

Challenges with the Online Attendance System

One day, he is introduced to an online attendance application that all teachers must use twice daily to mark their attendance. Worried about potential termination or salary deductions for failing to comply. He asks his grandson to help him purchase a smartphone and guide him through using the application. However, he faces difficulties due to the lack of internet service, which results in him missing the early morning routine and barely making it to the classroom in time for the teaching sessions. The life of a teacher’s struggle becomes a daily occurrence, and his fear of absenteeism and salary reduction prevents him from performing his duties adequately.

Missed Classes and Regret

One day, while attempting to catch an internet signal from a pile of debris, he slips and loses consciousness. Upon regaining consciousness, he finds himself back at home, deeply regretting that he missed his classes, a situation he had never experienced before.

Resignation and Consequences

The following day, a statement from a senior member of the judiciary, as reported in a newspaper, takes him aback, addressing the “excessive use of mobile phones by teachers.”The judiciary member accuses teachers of wasting time on social networking platforms. Orders that the salaries of teachers who fail to mark their attendance online should be withheld. Under the tremendous stress of these circumstances, he decides to resign. This decision marks the end of the academic careers of more than 50 students in his village. He was the only teacher at the school. Life of a teacher

Author: Ace Bureaucrat Academy