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India school teacher 'absent for 23 years' India school teacher 'absent for 23 years'
(about 3 hours later)
An Indian school says one of its teachers has been absent for 23 of the 24 years she has been on its books. An Indian state school says one of its teachers has been absent for 23 of the 24 years she has been on its books.
Sangeeta Kashyap was recruited in 1990 by the government in the central state of Madhya Pradesh as a biology teacher. Sangeeta Kashyap was recruited as a biology teacher in the central state of Madhya Pradesh in 1990.
School authorities say they do not know when she was last paid a salary, but she is still listed as an employee.School authorities say they do not know when she was last paid a salary, but she is still listed as an employee.
An official in the state education department told BBC Hindi that they had begun the process to remove her from the post. State education officials told the BBC the teacher would be removed her from the post. She is thought to have set an Indian record for staff absenteeism.
Ms Kashyap was hired 24 years ago and taught in a school in the town of Dewas in her first year, after which she took three years of leave. Ms Kashyap spent her first year teaching in a school in the town of Dewas, after which she took three years of leave.
In 1994, she was transferred to a school in the city of Indore but applied for maternity leave and never returned to work. In 1994, she was transferred to a school in the city of Indore but then applied for maternity leave and has never turned up for work.
Letters sent by the school to her address have remained unanswered, Sushma Vaishya, principal of the Government Ahilya Ashram School in Indore, said.Letters sent by the school to her address have remained unanswered, Sushma Vaishya, principal of the Government Ahilya Ashram School in Indore, said.
An education department official said they had written to education authorities in the state capital, Bhopal, to remove Ms Kashyap from her post. An education department official said they had written to education authorities in the state capital, Bhopal, to have Ms Kashyap removed from her post.
"I have no idea why nothing was done. We are writing to them again to remove her," Sanjay Goel told BBC Hindi's Shuraih Niyaazi."I have no idea why nothing was done. We are writing to them again to remove her," Sanjay Goel told BBC Hindi's Shuraih Niyaazi.
The school is allowed to have three biology teachers, but only two are filled - with the third held by the absentee teacher.The school is allowed to have three biology teachers, but only two are filled - with the third held by the absentee teacher.
Correspondents say absenteeism is a pervasive problem in government-run schools in India.Correspondents say absenteeism is a pervasive problem in government-run schools in India.
A World Bank study in 2004 found that 25% of teachers were absent from school, and only about half were teaching during unannounced visits to government primary schools. A World Bank study in 2004 found that 25% of teachers were absent from school, and only about half were present during unannounced visits to government primary schools.
Ms Kashyap's whereabouts remain unknown and she has not commented on the reports about her in the Indian press.Ms Kashyap's whereabouts remain unknown and she has not commented on the reports about her in the Indian press.
It is also not clear why she did not return to work - correspondents say the fact her post remained empty for so long says little for decision-making at the education department. It is also not clear why she did not return to work or if she has been working elsewhere - correspondents say the fact her post remained empty for so long says little for the competence of education officials.