Madhya Pradesh School Education Minister Uday Pratap Singh admitted publicly that he was aware of at least 500 school teachers who skip work and hire substitutes to teach in their place, drawing sharp criticism from the opposition Congress.

Speaking at an event in Raisen on Wednesday to commemorate the birth centenary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Singh’s candid remarks were captured in a video that quickly went viral on social media.

“I personally know 500 teachers who don’t attend schools and have hired substitutes. Some 100 of them are in my own district. These are societal challenges we must reflect upon,” Singh said during his address, highlighting systemic issues within the education sector.

Singh’s statement has raised concerns about the quality of education in government schools and the lack of oversight in ensuring that teachers fulfill their duties. Critics argue that such practices not only compromise the education of students but also undermine trust in public institutions.

The minister’s remarks prompted an immediate reaction from the opposition. Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari criticized the government’s inaction in addressing the malpractice. In a post on X, tagging Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, Patwari wrote, “It is shameful that your minister is aware of such malpractice in schools, yet instead of addressing it, he speaks about it casually from the stage.”

Patwari further demanded accountability, urging the government to investigate and take strict action against teachers involved in such misconduct. “How can we expect students to excel when teachers themselves shirk their responsibilities? This reflects the larger failure of the state government to prioritize education,” he said in a follow-up statement.

The issue has sparked a heated debate, with education activists and parent groups voicing their concerns. Many have called for an overhaul of the monitoring system to ensure that such practices are curbed.

Meanwhile, opposition leaders have alleged that the problem is indicative of deeper governance issues under the ruling party. “If the minister is aware of such widespread malpractice and admits it publicly, what steps have been taken to rectify the situation? The silence of the government on this matter speaks volumes,” a Congress spokesperson said.

Efforts to contact Minister Singh for clarification went unanswered, leaving many unanswered questions about the government’s approach to handling such a critical issue. Experts have urged the state to deploy stricter auditing mechanisms and improve teacher accountability to restore confidence in the public education system.

The controversy continues to dominate headlines, with the opposition planning to raise the issue during the upcoming assembly session.

Source: PTI

Also read: Madhya Pradesh: Scandalous indifference