The Hindu : Kerala News : It should not be a case of all work and poor pay peoplespeak

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Kerala

It should not be a case of all work and poor pay peoplespeak

A government-appointed committee is studying the service conditions of teachers in unaided schools following the State syllabus. What should be done to improve working conditions and wages in all unaided schools? Our readers respond:

How they differ

The government/aided school teachers are well paid, well organised and most importantly, they are aware of their rights and will go on strike at the slightest hint of their violation.

Their counterparts in unaided schools lack all this. Agreed, some managements pay decent salaries.

The rest, exploit talented persons by denying them salaries commensurate with their qualification/ experience.

It is said that such managements hoodwink the authorities as well as the public by coercing the staff to sign a salary statement which shows a decent amount. In reality, they are paid a drastically reduced amount. Unaided schools have come to stay in the State. Ironically, the patrons of such schools include those who vociferously champion the cause of public education. Unemployment being rife, there is no dearth of candidates knocking on their doors. The functioning of the unaided sector can be made democratic and transparent, if the government constitutes, without any financial implications, a committee comprising the head of the civic body, office-bearers of the PTA, the DEO and an eminent academic to do a kind of social auditing. But, it will succeed only with the cooperation of the managements. If the management refuses to abide by the norms, legal action needs to be taken. One thing is indisputable, teachers deserve to be paid well, irrespective of the category they belong to.

N.K. Vijayan

Kizhakkambalam

Same work, less salary

This is an issue to be debated by all people of Kerala. The syllabus followed by all schools is the same and so, the demands from teachers too must be similar. If so, why should there be a disparity in pay? In this context, one question becomes relevant. Why do parents, who cannot afford to send their children to private run schools, take many hardships to do so? The quality of teaching in privately run schools is much better than government ones. The former has superior infrastructure and teaching aids. Focus is given on hygiene too. In short, private schools are way ahead in almost all aspects except for the teachers’ pay packets. That seems unfair. If managements have to enhance monthly fees at a reasonable rate to pay teachers, let them do so – provided, the money reaches the teachers. The government can pay a monthly grant, based on students in the school, if the management is incapable of hiking the salary.

P.M.G Pillai

Mannar

Limit their role

Fact-finding and advisory committees are all right, but what if their recommendations, however noble and sensible, stumble upon extant policies and conventions?

Since even the judiciary prefers a more or less hands-off policy towards privately supported education, nowadays, the government’s good intentions may end up being disregarded.

Having earlier given private initiative a free hand in managing and delivering education, the government has only itself to blame for the state of affairs.

Let the government invite more private participation in education, by industry and businesses, but limit that to funding and monitoring.

By using the funds judiciously, to establish more institutions to deliver quality education, the government can show the way, both to the private sector and to the society as a whole, how good management can be a win-win situation for all concerned.

Beating the private sector at its own game is what the government should do.

Devraj Sambasivan

Alappuzha

Many reasons

The disparity between the salary paid to the teachers in government schools and those in unaided schools is so wide that it requires the urgent attention of the government. The State government’s move to appoint a committee to study service conditions of the teachers in unaided schools is laudable. Only if steps are taken to improve the working conditions/wages of teachers in unaided schools, will talented people consider teaching as a career option.

S. Paul Dhason

Thiruvananthapuram

Give them their due

Teaching, as a career, has a good future. There are many opportunities in this profession. But there are few takers because of poor remuneration, especially in unaided institutions. Also, the working conditions of teachers are pathetic in these schools. Here, teachers are often burdened with many other school-related works and their focus shifts from teaching. They are denied leave even for genuine reasons. If they manage to get a leave, their salary is cut.

R. Akhil Ratheesh

Thiruvananthapuram

‘Reward’ for toil

Private school managements employ many youngsters, who are unable to find jobs in aided or government schools. In these schools, merit rules and so, teachers have to work harder to produce better results. Their efforts are usually ‘rewarded’ with low wages and poor service benefits. Though there has been a marginal improvement in their service conditions recently, it is not adequate. The teachers should be rewarded on par with their output. The government should wake up to the reality that those working in the private sector are not second grade citizens. In a democratic set-up equality is the keyword.

Capt. O.B. Nair

Poonithura

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