SIALKOT: The district administration has deputed senior schoolteachers at the main gates of the quarantined houses to perform “special duties “ as watchmen to keep a vigilant eye on the activities of the people kept there.

The situation perturbed a lot of teachers [SST, scale-17] as they were performing guard duty without safety gear.

They were deputed at the main gates in a bid to keep the quarantined people in their houses.

The teachers said they were performing duties under the supervision of patwaris.

In Daska, a number of teachers staged a demonstration in front of the offices of the assistant commissioner against what they said unwise decision of the administration.

Sialkot Deputy Commissioner Dr. Nasir Mahmood Bashir said these houses were quarantined for the next 28 days.

Senior education officials said the district administration deputed three teachers at each quarantined house for eight hours in three shifts daily. They said it was a tough time for every one and the teachers must perform these duties without any reluctance.

Published in Dawn, April 3rd, 2020