Election duty for teachers may delay HSC assessment

Unpaid for three years and fed up with inaction from the government, teachers refuse to correct HSC papers and threaten to go on a hunger strike yet again

Unpaid for three years and fed up with inaction from the government, teachers refuse to correct HSC papers and threaten to go on a hunger strike yet again

Maharashtra's junior college teachers who went on a hunger strike on Tuesday to protest the state government's continued apathy may have tougher times ahead. Nearly 1,700 junior college teachers have not been paid their salaries for close to three years, and over 100 teachers, who retired last year, are yet to receive their pension.

The teachers will also be expected to work on election duty during the Lok Sabha polls in April. Many teachers, upset with the government's inaction, have refused to check HSC answer sheets till their long-pending complaints are attended to.

The added responsibility due to election duty may delay the assessment work even further. Maharashtra's School Education Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil told MiD DAY that the government can't take a decision till the Election Commission's code of conduct is in force.

The minister, government officials and the teachers' association met on March 12 when the teachers were on strike. Mukund Andhalkar, secretary, Mumbai Junior College Teachers' Union, said Vikhe-Patil has promised to meet the representatives on March 23.

"We may go on strike again if he does not keep his promise," said Andhalkar. The state government created nearly 1,700 temporary posts for teachers of new subjects like environment science and mathematics (practicals) in 2006-2007. They want their salaries, which have not been paid so far, to be cleared. They also want their appointments to be made permanent.

First strike
On March 12, junior college teachers in the city went on a day-long hunger strike. About 80 per cent of the teachers supported the boycott and refused to correct HSC answer papers. They have to correct 200 papers in 10 days.

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