Junior college teachers go on indefinite strike; minister unfazed.
Junior college teachers across the state began an indefinite strike on Monday, barely two days before higher secondary students are scheduled to appear for practical and oral examinations.
The Maharashtra State Federation of Junior College Teachers’ Organisation (MSFJCTO), which is spearheading the agitation, said teachers will not help out with exam-related duties like setting up of laboratories and helping in making seating arrangements.
“We’ve given the state enough time but it has left us with no choice but to go on strike,” said Anil Deshmukh, secretary, MSFJCTO, which represents about 60,000 teachers.
However, Rajendra Darda, minister for school education, said a solution will be found and exams will be conducted as per schedule. “Students should concentrate on studies and not worry about the schedule,” Darda told dna. The minister is likely to meet representatives from the teachers’ body on Wednesday.
The state junior college IT teachers’ association and non-teaching staff union have also joined the strike and this is likely to precipitate the situation further.
Already, students are disturbed by the delay in distribution of hall tickets which they are now expected to get by Tuesday. Many have not received the timetable for the practical and oral exams.
“We are yet to receive the detailed timetable for the practical exams and we have not received our hall tickets too. We are also hearing that the teachers will not conduct practicals,” said Arwa Saifee, a student of Oriental College, Sanpada. The practicals are scheduled to begin on Thursday.
Laxmikanth Pande, chairperson, Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, Mumbai division, said “The distribution of the hall tickets has started and colleges can give it to the students as soon as they receive it.”
The Maharashtra State Education Societies’ Federation, an organisation of about 5,000 colleges, has supported the striking teachers.
“We agree with the demands of teachers. If the government can spend crores on food security, why is it ignoring education? As the management of private colleges we will not initiate any action against teachers,” said Vijay Patil, president of the federation.
What the agitating teachers want
Teachers are demanding immediate appointments to fill vacant posts, a resolution of discrepancy in pay scales and consideration of total service period irrespective of appointment in aided or unaided colleges, with respect to promotions and appraisals
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