NAGPUR: Teacher unions have warned of mass agitations soon if the state education department does not scrap its new rule to link teacher promotions with school performance.
Members of state-level union, Maharashtra Rajya Shikshak Parishad (MRSP), have written to their local education officials about intensifying their agitation if the new rule is not taken back.
Puja Choudhari, senior member of MRSP said, "Yesterday across the state our members wore black bands and protested outside offices of deputy director of education. We will scale up these protests in the coming days."
School education department's principal secretary Nand Kumar said their decision is not being understood in the proper context. "First of all, every single teacher will get whatever scale the existing pay commission recommends. Their salaries are not being cut. All that we are saying is that if you want something extra then just ensure that your performance also reflects that," said Kumar.
He added that the new decision will affect very few teachers. "As per the data available with us, around 85% teachers are already qualified to get the extra benefits. The remaining 15% now need to step up and start improving their school's performance," said Kumar.
Teacher union leaders however are not convinced, alleging that addition of the condition itself is like 'breach of trust'. Nago Ganar, MLC from teachers constituency, has already written to both Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and school education minister Vinod Tawde criticing the new rule as unconstitutional.
"It's a decision which I call anti-teacher and anti-education. Two unrelated events are being linked just so that the department can save a bit of money. How can a teacher ensure 'A' grade for her school when it is connected mostly with existing infrastructure? The government should ensure that non-salary grants are released at the earliest so that every school can spruce up infrastructure and be classified as 'A' grade school," said Ganar.
Speaking to TOI a few days ago, Ganar said the government was "ignorant" and that's the reason for the latest GR. Ganar said, "Problem is that people who prepare guidelines are not aware about the issue at all. The senior and selection grade given to teachers after 12 and 24 years respectively is based on recommendations of the Chattopadhya Committee. Now if only somebody has bothered to read the Committe's report, they would not have even dreamt of connecting salary hikes with school's performance."
Members of state-level union, Maharashtra Rajya Shikshak Parishad (MRSP), have written to their local education officials about intensifying their agitation if the new rule is not taken back.
Puja Choudhari, senior member of MRSP said, "Yesterday across the state our members wore black bands and protested outside offices of deputy director of education. We will scale up these protests in the coming days."
School education department's principal secretary Nand Kumar said their decision is not being understood in the proper context. "First of all, every single teacher will get whatever scale the existing pay commission recommends. Their salaries are not being cut. All that we are saying is that if you want something extra then just ensure that your performance also reflects that," said Kumar.
He added that the new decision will affect very few teachers. "As per the data available with us, around 85% teachers are already qualified to get the extra benefits. The remaining 15% now need to step up and start improving their school's performance," said Kumar.
Teacher union leaders however are not convinced, alleging that addition of the condition itself is like 'breach of trust'. Nago Ganar, MLC from teachers constituency, has already written to both Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and school education minister Vinod Tawde criticing the new rule as unconstitutional.
"It's a decision which I call anti-teacher and anti-education. Two unrelated events are being linked just so that the department can save a bit of money. How can a teacher ensure 'A' grade for her school when it is connected mostly with existing infrastructure? The government should ensure that non-salary grants are released at the earliest so that every school can spruce up infrastructure and be classified as 'A' grade school," said Ganar.
Speaking to TOI a few days ago, Ganar said the government was "ignorant" and that's the reason for the latest GR. Ganar said, "Problem is that people who prepare guidelines are not aware about the issue at all. The senior and selection grade given to teachers after 12 and 24 years respectively is based on recommendations of the Chattopadhya Committee. Now if only somebody has bothered to read the Committe's report, they would not have even dreamt of connecting salary hikes with school's performance."
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