Many schools in Delhi-NCR not to celebrate Teachers’ Day; JNU,DU teachers to hold protest

Many private school associations in Delhi and NCR have said they will not celebrate Teacher’s Day to mark their protest against the recent “arrests” of many teachers and principals in the city, and the “poor treatment” given to their community. Teachers at many universities, including Delhi University, Jamia Millia Islamia and Jawaharlal Nehru University, also announced to hold peaceful protest and wear “black badges” against their several pending demands.

Calling Teachers’ Day, which is celebrate on September 5 every year, a “black day”, the National Independent Schools Alliance (NISA), an association of more than 160 schools, has announced to hold a peace march at their schools’ premises, over the “misuse” of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, against the teachers.

Similarly, the Springdales Education Society has announced that they will not host their “Teachers Day” dinner this year. “Owing to a series of disturbing events in schools, in and outside Delhi, where principals and teachers have been held accountable for situations that in many instances have not been the responsibility of schools and their management,” it said in a statement.

Principal of Springdales School Amita Wattal said, “We have taken the decision in solidarity with our colleagues facing poor treatment across the county. There have been innumerable incidences when some teachers and principals were held accountable without any involvement. The society has lost respect for teachers.”

The Affordable Private Schools’ Association has also issued a statement saying, “We, the educationist fraternity, have to restore the value in our society and respect of the teachers, so that we can bring trust in the system,” the Affordable Private Schools’ Association has also said in a statement.”

According to some principals, the teacher’s fraternity is “disturbed” due to “spate of unfair instances”. “Teachers across the nation are disturbed at the spate of instances where unfair and discriminatory treatment is being meted out to support staff, teachers, principals and school management. FIRs are being filed against principals, teachers and support staff and some have been jailed for circumstances not always within their control,” said Seema Jerath, the principal of DLF Public School in Sahibabad.

The members of Federation of Central Universities’ Teachers’ Associations (FEDCUTA) unanimously decided to wear “black badges” and hold demonstrations in their respective institutions on Wednesday. “The teachers association at the Delhi University, the Jamia Millia Islamia and the Jawaharlal Nehru University has extended their support to FEDCUTA’s call and will be wearing black badges on Teachers’ Day to mark their protest against our long pending demands such as restoration of old pension policy and regularisation of guest faculty,” said Rajib Ray, president of both FEDCUTA.

First Published: Sep 04, 2018 20:15 IST