Plus Two teachers on the warpath

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JULY 30. The Plus Two sector in Government schools is likely to have an early demise due to the lack of teachers and adequate infrastructure, the Higher Secondary School Teachers' Association has warned the Government.

Hundreds of posts were lying vacant in 256 Government Plus Two schools and teaching activities were being handled by guest lecturers, the association said at a press conference here today.

The Plus Two teachers in Government schools would launch an agitation, demanding that the Government appoint more teachers and regularise the service of existing teaching staff, the general secretary of the association, Mr. C. Jose Kutty, said.

There were no teachers to conduct classes in many Government Plus Two schools and even the 3,000-odd guest-lecturers have not been paid any remuneration for the past one year. There were not enough guest-lecturers too, as their remuneration package was very unattractive and most of them were conducting classes in four or five schools, the association said.

The Plus Two teachers have also been denied the benefit of grades, the association pointed out. Most Plus Two teachers were getting salaries less than what they were earning as High school teachers, it said.

The association also pointed out the difficulties faced by students as well as teachers as there were no district-level offices for the Higher Education Directorate. Administrative Special Rules were yet to be formed. Students in far-away districts too have to come all the way to the capital even for a transfer certificate, it pointed out.

The Plus Two teachers will observe August 1 as `Rights Day'. They will observe hunger strike on September 5, Teachers' Day. The Association has threatened to bring the Government Plus Two sector to a standstill from October 3 if the problems dogging the sector were not resolved.

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Section  : Southern States
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