PU paper checking in limbo

Here’s some bad news for those who took the PU exams this year: Talks between the chief minister Sadananda Gowda and the Karnataka State PU College Lecturers’ Association broke down on Friday as the state government has decided to speak to the boycotting members only on April 19. This means the lecturers will not evaluate the papers for the next six days.

In a bid to put an end to the PU lecturers’ boycott of evaluation, Gowda had called for a meeting with the members of the education department on Friday evening. However, the members of the Karnataka State PU College Lecturers’ Association and Coordination Committee were not a part of it.

“We never got a call from the chief minister asking us to be part of the meeting, so there is nothing we can say at this moment,” said Shakeel Ahmed, general secretary of the association.

Earlier in the day, over 100 teachers protested at Freedom Park. They were clear about what they want. “We will not evaluate any papers until there is a revision in the wages,” said a teacher despite there being pleas from the chief minister asking all teachers to call off the boycott.

Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, state minister for primary and secondary education, said: “Gowda has called for a meeting on April19. I hope the issues are sorted out,” he added. 
Both the lecturers and the state government have reached an impasse. The lecturers are protesting against the disparity in wages and have avowed not to evaluate any  exam papers until the government addresses the issue.