WARANGAL: Teachers’ unions and opposition parties on Wednesday urged the state government to exclude government primary school teachers from caste-based survey duties as they prepare students of classes III, VI and IX for the National Achievement Survey (NAS) test scheduled for December 4 in Warangal and Karimnagar Districts.

The state government appointed government primary school teachers as enumerators for the comprehensive caste survey and announced half-day programs for all government primary schools.

This decision comes as teachers prepare students for the NAS exam, held every three years to assess learning levels in government schools across the country.

N. Hymavathi, a government teacher, told Deccan Chronicle that the education department has implemented measures to improve the state’s rank in the NAS survey by providing teachers with practice papers to help students perform well.

However, the government assigned survey duties to government teachers, including primary school staff. Teachers struggle to balance these responsibilities with preparing students for NAS, she added.

P. Yadagiri, a leader of the Telangana Progressive Teachers Federation (TPTF), argued that the government should either reduce the workload of teachers or exclude them from survey duties as it takes about 45 minutes to collect details from a family. Completing the survey within three weeks would be a challenge, he said, and teachers also need time to focus on preparing students for NAS.

BRS leader A. Rakesh Reddy criticized the Congress-led government for involving teachers in the caste survey till November 30. Many students from weaker sections and communities in BC, ST and SC attend government schools.

“Instead of improving educational standards, how can the government assign survey work to teachers? Who will teach and complete the curriculum when teachers are busy with government duties?” he asked.