The School Education Department has stepped up its monitoring of government schools in West District, with surprise inspections leading to show-cause notices against 30 school personnel for alleged lapses and deficiencies.

The inspections were conducted across schools and hostels under different Education Inspectorates by Officers on Special Duty (OSDs) of the Directorate of Elementary Education under the supervision of the Director of School Education.

According to departmental officials, the exercise was aimed at assessing the quality of classroom teaching, strengthening academic supervision and ensuring greater accountability among school personnel.

Inspection teams examined several key areas, including teacher and student attendance, classroom activities, student assessment, foundational learning programmes and the functioning of pre-primary sections. Particular attention was given to the implementation of NIPUN Tripura, use of Teaching-Learning Materials (TLMs), activity-based learning and the functioning of NIPUN Corners.

The teams also assessed the use of contextualised TLMs provided by the department and reviewed the implementation of the PM POSHAN scheme, including food quality, hygiene and cleanliness. Sanitation and overall conditions on school premises were also inspected.

Officials interacted with members of School Management Committees and parents during the visits and provided guidance to schools wherever shortcomings were identified. Hostels attached to educational institutions were also inspected to assess their day-to-day functioning.

The department said several shortcomings were detected during the exercise. The findings were documented in inspection reports and action was taken based on the seriousness of the lapses. A total of 30 show-cause notices were issued to school personnel, while two Cluster Resource Persons were also served notices for alleged dereliction of duty. In three cases, salaries were stopped following the detection of serious misconduct.

The inspection drive also highlighted positive examples. Three schools were awarded appreciation certificates for maintaining satisfactory academic standards and demonstrating commitment towards improving students' learning outcomes.

Officials said subsequent visits to some schools showed encouraging progress, with teachers making efforts to improve teaching practices. Particular appreciation was given to schools that introduced innovative methods in pre-primary education.

In one notable example, grandparents were invited to pre-primary classrooms to narrate stories and share their experiences with children. The initiative was viewed as an effective way of connecting classroom learning with local experiences and making lessons more engaging for young learners. Appreciation letters were issued to schools that demonstrated such innovative practices and measurable improvement.

The Education Department said surprise inspections would continue as part of its efforts to improve academic standards, strengthen institutional accountability and ensure effective implementation of government education programmes.

Officials further indicated that similar monitoring exercises would soon be extended to secondary and higher secondary schools, with the concerned authorities expected to intensify inspections in the coming days.