Two teachers have died in last two days ostensibly unable to bear the anxiety even as fear of losing job has started taking toll on the health of thousands of Government school primary teachers in Uttarakhand. These teachers are at their wits end after realising that the Special Basic Teacher Certificate (BTC) course conducted by the state education department, the very basis of their qualification as primary teachers is not valid, thanks due to the sloppiness of education department officials.
On Thursday, headmaster of Government Primary School, Sakyanikhal in Jaiharikhal block of Pauri district died of a massive heart attack while he was teaching in the school. His fellow teachers claim that he was under stress from last some days.
Narendra Bhakuni of Salt area of Almora district met with a similar fate a day earlier when he was on way to Dehradun to attend a sit in organised by the association of primary teachers, the Prathmik Shikshak Sangh (PSS).
The anxiety of these teachers, the number of which is said to be more than 18000, is understandable as the Union Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry has conveyed it clearly after March 2019, it will not allow any non BTC or Diploma in Elementary Education (DElEd) degree holder teacher to teach the primary students. As a fire fighting measure, the department directed these teachers, to undergo a six month bridge course offered by the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), the last date for enrollment in this course ended on November 30. This offer was rejected vehemently by the PSS and under its directive no teacher enrolled for the bridge course.
However the teachers are stressed by this sudden prospect of losing their job. “ I am having sleepless nights from last few days. My parents and family members are advising me to enroll for the bridge course but our association and fellow teachers are determined not to register for it as it would put our seniority in jeopardy,’’ said a female teacher posted in Pauri district.
The General Secretary of the PSS, Digvijay Singh said that teachers are being unfairly treated and are being made to suffer for no fault of their own. He said that the teachers would hold a Gherao of the Vidhan Sabha at Gairsain on December 7.
Meanwhile PSS, the association of primary teachers of the state is continuing its agitation at the state education directorate on the issue.
On the day teachers of Nainital district held protest and vowed to take their fight to a logical end. The association is also planning to take the matter to the high court.