Niyojit teachers trying to blackmail government: Bihar education minister

PATNA: Education minister Krishna Nandan Prasad Verma tells Faryal Rumi in an interview that the indefinite strike called by 4.5 lakh niyojit teachers from February 17 will not affect invigilation during Matriculation exams to be conducted by Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) from Monday and evaluation of answer sheets of Intermediate examinees. Excerpts:
Niyojit teachers go on strike demanding equal pay for equal work almost every year. What is the permanent solution for this?
The Supreme Court has already rejected their petition. Their demand is unfair and by going on indefinite strike, they are trying to blackmail us. We are looking for permanent solution through recruitment of teachers in primary, secondary and senior secondary schools.
Will the teachers’ strike affect invigilation and evaluation of answer sheets of Class XII students?
All district magistrates and district education officers have been asked to depute employees of other departments as per the requirements. We have enough number of permanent teachers in government schools who will do the invigilation duty during Matriculation examinations. Alternate arrangements will be made for evaluation of answer sheets as well. We are trying to persuade the teachers not to go on strike. Even if they go on strike, we will rope in teachers from private schools and even colleges for evaluation of answer sheets.
Will the BSEB be able to announce results before time like previous year?
Last year, the Intermediate results were announced in March and Matriculation results in April. This time too, we will release the results around the same time.
Have you tried to persuade the niyojit teachers to withdraw the strike call?
I sent several letters to the teachers’ associations and appealed to them to reconsider their decision of indefinite strike in the interest of 15 lakh students of Class X, who will appear for the Matriculation examinations from Monday. If they wish to talk to me personally, they are welcome.
Is the government planning action against teachers going on strike?
Such teachers will face suspension and other departmental actions will also be taken against them for causing inconvenience to invigilation and evaluation duties. The education department will also lodge a case under IPC against the protesting teachers. Their salaries will be deducted on the basis of ‘no work no pay’.
Recruitment of contractual teachers in primary and secondary schools was suddenly stopped. Why so?
The Patna high court put a stay on the recruitment process. Now, we have to include those teachers as well who cleared the two-year diploma in elementary education (DElEd) course of NIOS. Around 1 lakh contractual teachers will be recruited in primary schools (classes I to VIII) and 38,000 in secondary schools. We will complete the recruitment of contractual teachers by the end of this year.