PANAJI
Panaji, have resolved to continue their strike till the demands are met, despite the chief minister offering to renew their contracts for another year.Speaking to media persons, the Goa Para Teachers Association (GPTA) member Smita Desai said she along with the other teachers were employed under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan which was later discontinued but were kept on as contract teachers for English at various primary schools in the State. “For 10 years we ve been working just as much as other teachers but have not been absorbed on permanent basis. This is unfair. How is it that they say we are not trained? We ve been working for 10 years and there are teachers who have come after us and who ve been given permanent jobs,” said Desai.The para teachers took turns on Monday and Tuesday with sitting outside the CM s residence to protest. Lending support to the cause were several political parties including the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).Congress Seva Dal member Swati Kerkar along with general secretary and spokesperson Yatish Naik, Congress secretary, Mario Pinto and GPCC spokesperson Avinash Tavares met with the director of Education department, Gajanan Bhat to find a solution to the issue.AAP spokesperson Valmiki Naik visited the protesting teachers who were mostly women and distributed water and discussed the means of solving their issues. Speaking to the media, Valmiki said, “They are mostly women and have done all they can through letters, etc. The fact that they being women had to spend the night by themselves outside the CM s residence is disturbing.” He also added that as per the law they should be absorbed in as the government has the capacity.Teachers have also complained that they, in addition to teaching English, are forced to also teach Marathi and Konkani.
For 10 years we ve been working just as much as other teachers but have not been absorbed on permanent basis. This is unfair. There are teachers who have come after us and who ve been given permanent jobs,” ”Smita Desai,GPTA member
