The chalk down strike of the teachers of the high schools and inter colleges of the State is taking its toll on the studies of the students. The teachers are on a path of agitation since September 5 in support of their demands.
In the tussle of teachers and the State Government, the students are the biggest sufferers, there are more than 3.5 lakh students in the government schools of the state who are forced to silently suffer due to the strike.
This time of the year which teachers choose to go on strike is the most important time in the academic year as large part of syllabus is completed in September- October, just before the half yearly examination.
The Secondary education director CS Gwal told The Pioneer that teachers should understand the problems of students too as they are suffering from their strike. He appealed to the Rajkeeya Shikshak Sangh (RSS), the association of high school and Inter — college teachers, to take back the strike call in the interest of students. The education department has cancelled the transfers of 99 teachers which it did in the name of attachment as demanded by the teachers. The department has also accepted the demand of RSS to provide the benefit of paid leave for the period of Panchayat election duty. The RSS is on the path of agitation from Teachers’ day (September 5). The teachers are demanding payment of inaccessible allowance for the teachers posted in inaccessible areas of state, removal of pay disparity between the teachers of Garhwal and Kumaon division, benefit of Assured Career Progression (ACP) and promotions to 700 vacant posts of Principals. The teachers are also annoyed by the department’s decision to declare many posts of lecturer Teachers (lT) surplus.
In order to persuade teachers to take back the strike call the state government has invited a delegation of RSS for talks at secretariat on Monday evening.