Mysore/Mysuru: Teaching community in the district is in a state of shock after 25 teachers, Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI) and four staff members in his office have tested Corona positive.

This came to light after a free COVID test was conducted for teachers belonging to Mysuru City North, South and Taluk, said T.A. Somegowda, General Secretary, Government Primary School Teachers’ Association.

According to him, as many as 500 teachers underwent COVID-19 test of which 25 teachers tested positive. Besides, DDPI and four clerks in his office too have contracted the Coronavirus last week. Two teachers in Hunsur Block Education Officer’s jurisdiction who had participated in ‘Nali-Kali’ training programme have also reportedly contracted the virus, he said.

Somegowda claimed that the staff at DDPI office were working without social distancing due to lack of space and this was said to be the main reason for the outbreak of pandemic in that office. Urgent steps must be initiated to save the employees from pandemic. Hygiene is absent in the office and some employees attend duty without wearing face masks, he alleged.

Cancel training programmes for teachers

The State Government has introduced ‘Vidyagama’ scheme under which teachers visit every house of their students to monitor their progress as well as to address problems, if any. Though it was a good initiative keeping in view the academic progress of kids, it was risky for teachers due to prevalence of COVID-19 everywhere.  Amidst this, the Department is holding ‘Nali-Kali’ and ‘Jeevan Koushal’ training programme for teachers in all taluks. While teachers are involved in Corona awareness campaign, they were only becoming the victims of this virus. Need of the hour was to cancel all kinds of training for teachers till the situation becomes normal, he opined.

Corona hits MUDA?

According to reports, several employees of Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) are said to have tested Corona positive and a few of them are admitted to Hospital for treatment.