The Commissionerate police on Tuesday arrested around 50 agitating computer teachers who were trying to commit self-immolation in front of the official quarter of School and Mass Education Minister Rabi Narayan Nanda here.
At around 11am, the agitators under the banner of the Odisha Secondary Computer Teachers’ Association on Tuesday gathered before Nanda’s residence and tried to immolate themselves forcing the security forces to arrest them. later, they were released on personal bonds.
The teachers have been demanding fulfilment of their three-point charter of demands.
“We have been working at different Government High Schools for 12 years being appointed by various computer agencies like PTA with a very scanty scale of pay. We are not even getting regular salary. But the Government is trying to recruit new computer teachers under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan. We appeal to the Government not to retrench us and ensure our job regularisation and timely salary payment,” said a teacher.
The teachers also slammed the recent notification of the Board of Secondary Education and the Director of Secondary Education’s notification that BSc (Computer Science/Information Technology) or BCA or Graduate with PGDCA from any recognised university or Graduate with DOEACC ‘A’ level course or graduate DOEACC ‘O’ level course with one year experience in e-library /e-school project of School and Mass Education Department with requisite subject knowledge would be eligible for the post.