Peeved over Punjab Government’s decision to reduce grants for aided colleges by 15 per cent and making contractual appointments instead of regular ones, the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union (PCCTU) has decided to hold complete education bandh and march to Punjab legislative Assembly on July 17.
“The decision of Punjab Government to reduce grant by 15 per cent to private aided colleges and make contractual appointments instead of regular ones for the posts to be filled has come as a shock to the entire teaching community of private aided colleges,” said the Union president Dr PS Gill.
Reacting against Punjab government’s “arbitrary” move, the Union along with the Management Federation and Principals Federation of Guru Nanak Dev University has planned complete education Bandh on 17th July to proceed to Vidhan Sabha and court arrest. It has been over a year now that Punjab Government has not given any aid to the aided colleges and the teachers of these colleges are facing acute financial penury thereof.
Gill said that the recent announcement of withdrawal of grants from 95 to 80 per cent and another five percent after three years has shaken the very basis on which the grant-in-aid scheme was introduced since 1978. Not only this, the government has directed that fresh appointment be made on contract basis for three years and the same to be reviewed after the stipulated time period, he added.
“Punjab Government, it seems, has completely ousted the issue of higher education from its agenda completely. Instead of filling 50 per cent posts with immediate effect and 50 per cent in the ensuing session, as recommended by the high-powered review committee, the government has agreed to fill just 25 per cent and that too on contractual basis,” said Union general secretary Dr Kuldip Singh, who was also the member of committee.