Over 200 Delhi Government Teachers Deployed to Administrative Roles Instead of Classrooms
An estimated 200 Delhi government school teachers, including Trained Graduate Teachers (TGTs) and Postgraduate Teachers (PGTs), are currently deployed in administrative and clerical roles across New Delhi instead of teaching in classrooms. Despite being physically absent from their schools, these teachers continue to be marked "on duty" on school registers, leaving classrooms understaffed and compromising student education.
The practice extends across various teacher categories, school heads, and physical education instructors. According to school principals and teacher representatives, teachers are being deputed to district and zonal offices, the education department headquarters, and sports stadiums. Many of these teachers have effectively transitioned into full-time office staff, handling files, court cases, and other clerical work.
In one extreme case, a school official revealed that a teacher appointed as a TGT over two decades ago has spent his entire career in administrative offices, rising through the ranks without ever teaching a single class.
The issue also affects school leadership. Several principals and vice-principals are reportedly working in district offices or headquarters while still being shown on the rolls of their respective schools. This prevents their posts from being declared vacant, leaving schools without active leadership.
Ajay Veer Yadav, general secretary of the Government School Teachers’ Association, stated that he has repeatedly raised this issue with the education department over the past 15 years. Yadav noted that teachers are often attached to district, zonal, and headquarters offices at the discretion of officers under the designation of Officer on Special Duty (OSD). He attributed the problem to the lack of a dedicated administrative cadre in the education department.
Education activist and lawyer Ashok Agarwal also highlighted that the issue has been repeatedly flagged before the High Court. Agarwal stated that he had submitted lists of such cases to the education department, and while previous directors had ordered these teachers to return to their original school postings, many gradually returned to administrative offices. He argued that non-teaching staff should handle administrative duties like Right to Information (RTI) and Right to Education (RTE) works.
While the education department did not provide an immediate official response, one official stated that it would be incorrect to suggest a significant number of teachers are permanently diverted. The official maintained that some teachers are assigned administrative tasks to meet statutory and departmental requirements.
