PATNA: Approximately four lakh ‘Niyojit’ (contractual) teachers of government schools in the state went on an indefinite strike from Monday in support of their eight-point demands, including equal pay for equal work.
The strike, which has been organised under the banner of the Bihar Rajya Shikshak Sangharsh Samanvay Samiti (BRSSSS) coincided with the beginning of the Matriculation exams conducted by the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB). However, the government claimed that the teachers’ protest had no adverse impact on the exams.
Education department additional chief secretary R K Mahajan told TOI, “The government had made it clear that tough action will be taken against those who boycott the examination duty. Their salaries will also be deducted.”
Mahajan also instructed all the district magistrates, municipal commissioners, deputy development commissioners and district education officers to prepare a list of the teachers, who are boycotting examination duty, disturbing others or creating hurdles in the process of answer sheet evaluation, and lodge an FIR against them. He had written a similar letter on February 7 as well.
“The strike has not had any impact as we had roped in permanent teachers, contractual teachers of senior secondary schools and old teachers recruited before 2006 for conducting the examinations,” Mahajan claimed.
Education minister Krishna Nandan Prasad Verma condemned the teachers’ protest and called it unfortunate. “Exams are important for shaping children’s careers. It is unfortunate that teachers have gone on strike at this time. We cannot fulfil their demands because we are abiding by the Supreme Court order,” Verma said.
On the other hand, teachers, who have gone on strike, warned the government of dire consequences if their demands were not fulfilled. They also claimed that academic activities could not be carried out in 76,000 government schools on Monday.
In a press release, BRSSSS convener Brajnandan Sharma stated, “We will continue with our strike until our demands are fulfilled. Any punitive action against a teacher supporting us will make our movement more aggressive.”
One of the members of the BRSSSS (Patna), Prem Chandra, alleged that the education department had sought the help of nursing staff and Anganwadi workers for conducting the examinations.
The strike, which has been organised under the banner of the Bihar Rajya Shikshak Sangharsh Samanvay Samiti (BRSSSS) coincided with the beginning of the Matriculation exams conducted by the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB). However, the government claimed that the teachers’ protest had no adverse impact on the exams.
Education department additional chief secretary R K Mahajan told TOI, “The government had made it clear that tough action will be taken against those who boycott the examination duty. Their salaries will also be deducted.”
Mahajan also instructed all the district magistrates, municipal commissioners, deputy development commissioners and district education officers to prepare a list of the teachers, who are boycotting examination duty, disturbing others or creating hurdles in the process of answer sheet evaluation, and lodge an FIR against them. He had written a similar letter on February 7 as well.
“The strike has not had any impact as we had roped in permanent teachers, contractual teachers of senior secondary schools and old teachers recruited before 2006 for conducting the examinations,” Mahajan claimed.
Education minister Krishna Nandan Prasad Verma condemned the teachers’ protest and called it unfortunate. “Exams are important for shaping children’s careers. It is unfortunate that teachers have gone on strike at this time. We cannot fulfil their demands because we are abiding by the Supreme Court order,” Verma said.
On the other hand, teachers, who have gone on strike, warned the government of dire consequences if their demands were not fulfilled. They also claimed that academic activities could not be carried out in 76,000 government schools on Monday.
In a press release, BRSSSS convener Brajnandan Sharma stated, “We will continue with our strike until our demands are fulfilled. Any punitive action against a teacher supporting us will make our movement more aggressive.”
One of the members of the BRSSSS (Patna), Prem Chandra, alleged that the education department had sought the help of nursing staff and Anganwadi workers for conducting the examinations.
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