Headmasters and headmistresses of 854 Government high schools on Saturday threatened that they would boycott the High School Certificate (HSC) Examinations, 2014 if their posts are not validated in the ensuing Assembly session.
The teachers had been sitting on a relay hunger strike in front of the State Assembly for the last 26 days demanding validation of their services after the State Government reverted their posts to assistant teachers’ posts. One of them was admitted to the Capital Hospital here after his condition deteriorated, United Teachers Employees Coordination Committee president Dr Yudhistir Khatua informed.
Addressing a Press conference here, Dr Khatua said the reverted headmasters took mass leave and resorted to relay hunger strike as their demand was not met even after repeated assurance made by the Chief Minister. Dr Khatua said even though they did not fulfill the norms as enshrined in the 1977 rule, which requires seven years teaching experience with BEd qualification to become a Headmaster, they were elevated to the post in the absence of the eligible teachers.
The Government also approved their posts and paid them headmaster scale after seven years of their service, he said. Describing the move as unfortunate, he said the Government reverted the services of 854 Headmasters twice, first in 2002 and then in 2012. Though, by virtue of an order of Supreme Court they services were revoked in 2003, the Government reverted them again in August 2012.