Chief Minister (CM) Dr Mohan Yadav-led Madhya Pradesh government has made a striking move aimed at addressing the shortage of teachers in government schools across the state on Saturday, initiating strict action against teachers who have been working on long-term deputation in various government departments instead of their designated schools.

The Directorate of Public Instruction (DPI) has directed that the salaries for June 2026 be withheld for teachers who are serving in departments and government offices rather than teaching at their original places of posting. The move is aimed at ensuring that government schools have adequate teaching staff and that students' education is not adversely affected.

12k teachers working outside schools

According to the state’s School Education Department, nearly 12,000 government teachers across Madhya Pradesh have been deputed over the years to ministries, the State Education Centre, Block Education Officer (BEO) offices, cluster centres, District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs), collectorates, panchayats and several other government institutions.

Officials said that some teachers have remained away from classrooms for as long as 17 years. The prolonged deputation of teaching staff has significantly reduced the availability of teachers in government schools, impacting the quality of education and the learning experience of students.

June 2026 salaries to be withheld for defaulters

During a review meeting at the Directorate of Public Instruction, DPI Commissioner Abhishek Singh instructed officials to immediately stop the release of June salaries for teachers who are not serving in their parent schools.

The department will prepare a list of such teachers and initiate further action in accordance with the government's directives.

E-attendance verification made mandatory

The department has also tightened its monitoring mechanism by making e-attendance verification compulsory before the release of salaries.

All principals and cluster in-charges have been instructed to verify teachers' online attendance records before processing salary payments. No salary will be released without proper verification. The department also warned that disciplinary action would be initiated against teachers who fail to register their attendance through the online system.

Bhopal posts 14% gap in e-attendance

In Bhopal district alone, around 4,300 teachers and education department employees are currently posted. However, nearly 620 of them; approximately 14% of the total workforce, are not registered on the e-attendance system.

Officials said that many of these teachers are currently attached to various government offices and institutions instead of working in schools.