PRAYAGRAJ, June 16 -- At least nine government school teachers in Prayagraj have been dismissed by Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA), Anil Kumar, for remaining absent from duty for extended periods without informing the education department, prompting authorities to launch a district-wide review of attendance across primary schools. Officials said the dismissed staff include two male and seven female teachers. The action comes amid concerns over the impact of teacher absenteeism on students' education, with the BSA warning that unauthorised absence will invite strict disciplinary action. As part of the exercise, attendance and punctuality records are being reviewed across all 2,835 primary schools in the district to improve accountability. The BSA said absenteeism had become a recurring issue in some schools. During a surprise inspection, a female teacher was found absent for more than four years without informing the department. "Upon inquiry, it was found that she had been seriously ill and undergoing treatment. While the headmaster had stopped her salary during the initial phase of her absence, her family failed to inform the department. They approached authorities with medical documents only after the termination notice was issued," he said. In another case, a teacher remained absent for over three months without prior information, while the headmaster allegedly failed to stop his salary. Both were suspended under the Uttar Pradesh Basic Education (Teachers) Service Rules, 1981. According to the BSA, continuous absence of over five years without information leads to termination proceedings, while cases involving absence of two to three years may be considered for reinstatement under a "no work, no pay" condition. For the nine teachers dismissed this month, the department issued three notices over 45 days seeking explanations. After receiving no satisfactory response, a gazette notification was published before termination. The BSA said the district's dropout rate has declined from 15% to 3% in recent years. "I personally inspect 20 schools every month, while block education officers have a target of inspecting 40 schools monthly. No one will be spared for dereliction of duty, as it directly impacts children's education," he added. At present, approximately 14,500 teachers are deployed across 2,832 schools in the district, catering to nearly three lakh enrolled students....