An order issued by an Education Officer from Mumbai asking schools to appoint a teacher as a nodal officer to prevent stray dogs from entering school premises has triggered backlash from teachers. While teachers have warned about agitation stating that this is an insult, senior officers from the state’s school education department have clarified that there is a misinterpretation and there are no plans to appoint teachers as nodal officers.
The issue came to light following a directive from Education Officer (EO) from Mumbai North Division Dr Mushtaq Shaikh which stated, “As per the directions issued by the Supreme Court, each school is required to appoint one teacher as a nodal officer to ensure the maintenance and cleanliness of the school premises and to make sure that stray dogs do not roam within the institution’s premises.”
The office of Mumbai North EO which covers area from Mulund to Kurla/Chembur roughly covers over 1,000 schools.
This led to furore among teachers’ community in Mumbai. One of the teachers’ associations –Maharashtra Purogami Shikshak Sangathna – has written a letter against this to the school education minister and other authorities. Tanaji Kamble from the Maharashtra Purogami Shikshak Sangathana, said, “Not only is this insulting, it undermines the role of teachers in the education system. Responsibilities such as sanitation, campus maintenance and stray dog control fall under municipal corporations and local administrative bodies, and teachers are being burdened with non-academic duties to mask administrative failure.”
The directive by Shaikh was attached with an excel sheet of the prescribed format to submit the information, which it states was demanded as per the instructions issued by the senior office in this regard referring to an order issued by Commissioner of Education Sachindra Pratap Singh, dated December 30 which refers to the suo motu petition currently being heard by the SC in regards to the growing public nuisance caused by stray animals and serious instances of human-animal conflict. It stated that in compliance with the SC’s directions, the education department has sought details from all government, aided, partially aided and self-financed schools under zilla parishads and urban local bodies. But does not mention that a teacher should be appointed as a nodal officer for it. Shaikh was not available to comment on the issue.
When contacted, Singh said, “The information is sought on precautionary and preventive measures taken in schools to submit it to the SC. There is no mention of appointing a teacher as a nodal officer. If anybody has issued such a directive, it is wrong and will be looked into.”
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Pallavi Smart is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, Mumbai Bureau. Her reporting is singularly focused on the education sector, demonstrating exceptional Expertise and Authority across the entire spectrum of learning, from foundational schooling to advanced higher education. She is a highly Trustworthy source for policy, institutional developments, and systemic issues affecting students, teachers, and parents in Maharashtra.
Expertise
Senior Role: As a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, her designation reflects her seniority, specialized knowledge, and the editorial rigor applied to her reporting.
Core Authority & Specialization: Pallavi Smart is the definitive voice for Education news in the region. Her coverage scope is comprehensive:
Policy and Regulatory Changes: Reports on major shifts in educational policy, including the restructuring of entrance exams (e.g., MHT-CET adopting the JEE Main model), the draft regulatory framework for coaching classes, and revised teacher recruitment processes.
Higher Education Institutions (HEIs): Provides in-depth reporting on prestigious institutes like IIT Bombay and TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences), covering institutional initiatives, administrative debates (e.g., renaming IIT Bombay), and student welfare programs (e.g., mandatory mental health courses).
Teachers and Eligibility: Covers crucial issues affecting the teaching fraternity, such as the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for in-service teachers and related controversies and application numbers.
Student Welfare & Rights: Focuses on issues concerning students, including the rollout of government scholarships, the financial strain on schools due to midday meal reimbursement delays, and instances of child rights violations (e.g., the Powai studio hostage crisis).
Admissions and Vacancy: Tracks the outcome of centralized admission processes (e.g., MBBS, BPharm) and analyzes vacancy concerns, providing essential data-driven insights for parents and students.
Credentials & Trustworthiness
Dedicated Beat: Her consistent focus on the “KG to PG” education beat allows her to develop unparalleled subject matter knowledge, ensuring her reports are accurate, detailed, and contextualized.
Proactive Reporting: Her articles frequently break news on policy and institutional planning, providing the public with timely, essential information about a sector that directly impacts millions of families.
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