The ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal has adversely affected academic activities in government-run schools in the state, with thousands of teachers – who have been appointed as Booth Level Officers (BLOs) by the Election Commission – busy with door-to-door visits.Many government-run schools were already functioning with a reduced staff strength after the Supreme Court in April scrapped the 2016 West Bengal Staff Selection Commission (WBSSC) panel, leading to the termination of jobs of around 26,000 teachers.At the Narayan Das Bangur Memorial Multipurpose School in Kolkata, 13 of 34 teachers have been given BLO duty. Moreover, even the lone Group C staff at the institution has been appointed as a BLO.Speaking to The Indian Express over the phone, Sanjay Barua, Headmaster, Narayan Das Bangur Memorial Multipurpose School, said, “I’m myself performing the duties of the Group C staff, as I have no other choice. We have got some guest teachers from other schools, and exams are currently underway.”He further said, “This is an integrated school, meaning it has primary, secondary and high secondary sections. The primary wing is the most affected, as five of eight permanent teachers have been deputed as BLOs. We are worried about who will check the papers, as the results have to be announced on time. Also, new admissions and enrolment for Madhyamik (Secondary Board) examinations will begin soon. I wonder how we will handle everything in view of the staff crunch.”Similar problems are also being faced by the headmaster of Jadavpur Vidyapith. While the total strength of teachers in this school is 46, eight teachers have been assigned BLO duties. Headmaster Partha Pratim Baidya said, “This (teachers being deputed as BLOs) has caused a great problem for the teaching-learning process. Eight teachers are on BLO duty, some teachers are on leave, and some vacancies have not been filled. So, on any given day, around 15 teachers are not there, which means 60 to 70 classes will be hampered.”He further said, “Every day, we are making provisional routines… There is no clarity when the teachers who have been assigned BLO duties will return… The BLO duty is a very important work, and that also must be done, but students will get affected if the syllabi are not completed on time.”Story continues below this adAll four teachers of Halara Primary School in Jamalpur, East Burdwan, have been deployed as BLOs, leaving parents of students worried. The school, located in the Jamalpur 1 Gram Panchayat, has 112 students.“We have been instructed to complete the SIR work with utmost accuracy, and the workload is overwhelming,” said Headmaster Sujit Bag.“Since November 4, it has become nearly impossible for any of us to conduct classes. To prevent the school from shutting down completely, we are taking turns to go to the school. We’ve also tried to ensure the continuity of the mid-day meal scheme,” Bag added.Given the situation, the block school inspector has temporarily assigned Mohammad Asif Firdousi, a teacher from Itla Primary School, to manage Halara Primary School. Firdousi is now single-handedly running classes, supervising students, and overseeing mid-day meals.Story continues below this adDr Supriyo Panja, who recently retired as headmaster of The Park Institution in Kolkata, stated that five of 31 teachers have been assigned BLO duty.The former headmaster said, “Out of two teachers for computer science, one teacher is out for BLO duty. It is not possible for the other teacher to manage everything.”Dr Panja further said that one chemistry teacher lost their job due to the Supreme Court order in April, and the lone chemistry teacher left has been assigned SIR work. “The Class 12 exams are right around the corner… the studies of the higher secondary students will be hampered,” he added.Dr Swagata Basak, Headmistress, Taki Boys, Kolkata, said the primary section of their school has been the worst affected. “I have 38 teachers, out of which more than 20 teachers have been assigned BLO duty. Apart from this, five more teachers have been kept as reserves. Still, some teachers who have BLO duties are coming as they understand the situation and feel that they need to be here in school… but they are having to endure tremendous pressure,” she added.Story continues below this adFor the time being, classes are being held on alternate days in the primary section.