PANAJI
AAP leaders meet Goa Samagra Shiksha teachers on Friday, who are on hunger strike from past three days at Azad Maidan and demanded regularisation of the 54 part-time instructors.
In the press note, while addressing the media, Pratima Coutinho, vice president of AAP stated, “Currently government’s Home Ministry department is only active. Someone comes to protest then the officials from the home ministry come to the location. Here, contract teachers have been on hunger strike at Azad Maidan from the past three days and Education Minister Pramod Sawant is nowhere to be found. We demand that the CM activate his Education department and regularise the part-time instructors.”
She further stated, “There are a total 54 instructors of special subjects working under Samagra Shiksha, many of whom have been working since 2011. They have been appointed on contract basis with a monthly remuneration of Rs 15,000-16,000. Their contract has been continuously renewed. All the said instructors are graduates, a few double graduates and PhD holders, from recognised professional colleges and are well qualified in their respective fields. AAP supports teachers’ demand of regularisation in the job.”
“They are named as part-time instructors but the fact is that they are working full time from 7.45 am “ 1.45pm, like any other regular teacher. They conduct regular classes; take up other assigned duties of the school. Along with respective subject they are also engaged for substitution classes and at times handle scholastic subjects,” she added.
In the press note, Valmiki Naik, AAP vice president stated, “Teachers are working tirelessly but their salary is very low. These teachers are working on a contract basis from 10-12 years. Some of them crossed their age limit to apply for government jobs. CM Pramod Sawant talks a lot about how Goa has a great education infrastructure but we know the status of government schools in Goa. Teachers are an important part of any educational institution. Here, teachers are not regularised.”
