Ludhiana, Sept. 17 -- Amid teachers' allegations that government schools are already struggling with staff shortages, the education department has sought 87 more government school teachers for the second phase of Census 2027, requiring them to be relieved from their teaching duties for the assignment.

The directive by the education department was issued on Tuesday, a day after government-school teachers' unions submitted demand letters to the district education officer (DEO) and deputy commissioner seeking withdrawal of non-academic duties.

The unions have argued that repeated deployment of teachers for administrative assignments is affecting classroom teaching, particularly when schools are already short of staff.

A letter issued by t...