Delhi Teachers Seek Tablet Reimbursement

Delhi Government School Teachers Request Action on Pending Tablet Reimbursement

Delhi Government School Teachers’ Association (GSTPA) has appealed to Education Minister Ashish Sood to address the long-standing issue of tablet reimbursement dues. The association cited the financial burden placed on teachers due to the delayed payments.

The Issue

According to a letter signed by GSTPA general secretary Ajay Veer Yadav, teachers purchased tablets from their personal savings in 2023 for official educational purposes. The reimbursement of these expenses remains unresolved, causing financial difficulties.

Circular and Reimbursement Policy

In December 2023, the Directorate of Education (DoE) issued a circular directing all regular and guest teachers to purchase tablets. The circular stated that reimbursement of up to ₹15,000 or the device’s cost would be provided. Teachers were instructed to purchase the tablets and submit bills by January 31, 2024, with a warning of action against those who failed to comply.

Teacher Experiences

Several teachers reported that their reimbursement dues have been pending since 2023. They stated that despite raising the issue at both the school and department levels, no payments have been received. One teacher, who has been teaching for over three decades, stated that thousands of teachers purchased tablets in 2023 to facilitate digitised schoolwork.

Mandatory Purchase and Consequences

Another teacher from South Delhi highlighted that the order made tablet purchase mandatory and warned of action against non-compliant teachers. A 35-year-old guest teacher explained that teachers purchased the tablets with their own funds, anticipating reimbursement within a few months.

Lack of Response

Queries sent to the DoE and the education minister did not elicit a response, according to a report by Hindustan Times.

Next Steps

As of now, the timeline for resolving the reimbursement issue and the specific actions to be taken remain unclear. The GSTPA is continuing to advocate for the release of the outstanding payments.

Source: Hindustan Times. Featured image credit: Hindustan Times.