The Hindu : Other States / Orissa News : Teachers threaten to lock up schools

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Teachers threaten to lock up schools

Staff Reporter

Over four lakh students appearing for matric exams may face trouble

There are 1,314 block grant secondary schools in 30 districts
Filling of vacant posts of group ‘D’ employees also demanded

BHUBANESWAR: Dejected over the fact that the State government’s repeated assurances never resulted in fulfilment of demands, hundreds of teachers of block grant secondary schools on Friday announced to lock up their schools from November 4 for an indefinite period.

Sudden closure of schools would cast shadow over the fate over one lakh students, who would be appearing annual matriculate examination in rural areas of the State.

Addressing a press conference here, president of teachers and employees association of block grant secondary schools Prasant Kumar Mohapatra said if the State government failed to regularise their service as assured by it earlier, they would have no option but to close down schools.

“We are getting 40 per cent of salary fixed by the Fourth Pay Commission. Now the State government is mulling over paying salary according to Sixth Pay Commission. It is humiliating,” Mr. Mohapatra said.

He said the State government had decided to set up one government high school in every panchayat. “While there are high schools that come up due to contributions from people, why is the government looking elsewhere? It could easily take over block grant secondary schools and accord those status of government schools,” president of the association said.

There are around 1,314 such secondary schools operating in 30 districts of the State.

To highlight their demands, teachers and employees of these schools had locked up schools for a month from November 1 to December 7 last year.

“Subsequently, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik held discussions with representatives of the association. We were given assurance that the State government would immediately pay 60 per cent of salary being received by other government employees. Before elections, our salary will be regularised,” association secretary Prasant Pati said.

Mr. Pati charged that whenever association tried to remind the promise made by government earlier, only answer they got from the government that the State was passing through critical phase in flood and communal violence in Kandhamal district.

Whole administration was busy in relief and rescue operation and their issues could be taken up on a later stage, he added.

“We have lost patience. Hundreds of teachers cannot be subjected to wait for an indefinite period,” the association secretary said.

The association further demanded that filling of vacant posts of group ‘D’ employees.

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