Haryana Teachers Assigned Census Duties Amid Severe Staff Shortage, Says AAP

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday criticised the Haryana government for deploying school teachers for census duties, warning that the move could disrupt education in the state amid an already significant shortage of staff. Highlighting concerns over student safety and classroom supervision, the party said the decision risks compromising teaching quality just as the new academic session has begun. According to AAP national media in-charge Anurag Dhanda, government schools are facing an acute scarcity of teachers, and diverting them to administrative work could have serious consequences for students.

Dhanda alleged that in several schools, even the sole teacher has been tasked with census responsibilities, leaving classrooms unattended. “Assigning census duties in schools with minimal staff raises the question of who will teach students and ensure their safety,” he said, emphasising the potential disruption during a critical period of admissions and academic planning. The party warned that such measures could aggravate the existing gaps in education delivery, particularly in rural and understaffed areas.

Citing official data, Dhanda said more than 15,000 teaching posts in Haryana remain vacant, spanning postgraduate, trained graduate, and primary positions. Certain districts reportedly have even fewer teachers, with some schools operating with only a single teacher or none at all. He called on the state government to prioritise classroom education and ensure that essential teaching responsibilities are not compromised by administrative assignments like census work.

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Officials in various states have previously defended such deployments, stating that teachers are routinely tasked with administrative duties, including elections and census exercises, as part of government requirements. However, education stakeholders have repeatedly criticised this practice, pointing out its adverse impact on learning outcomes. The AAP’s criticism adds to ongoing debates over balancing administrative obligations with the fundamental responsibility of schools to provide uninterrupted education.

The current census, which began on April 1, marks India’s first population survey in 15 years, delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic. It is the world’s largest administrative survey and includes data collection on housing conditions, basic amenities, and for the first time since 1931, caste-based enumeration. Over three million personnel have been mobilised nationwide to ensure accurate data collection, which will inform future policy planning, welfare distribution, and resource allocation. The Haryana government has not yet responded to the AAP’s allegations.

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