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India school teacher 'absent for 23 years' | India school teacher 'absent for 23 years' |
(about 17 hours later) | |
An Indian state school says one of its teachers has been absent for 23 years of her 24-year career. | |
Sangeeta Kashyap was recruited as a biology teacher in the central state of Madhya Pradesh in 1990. | 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. |
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. | 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 spent her first year teaching in a school in the town of Dewas, 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 then applied for maternity leave and has never turned up for 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 have Ms Kashyap removed 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 present 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 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. | 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. |