State’s edu project receives flak

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 6

The state project ‘Padho Punjab, Padhao Punjab’ is at receiving end following a boycott of the project across the state by the ‘Sikhya Bachao Manch’, Punjab.

The Department of Education at Ludhiana on Thursday directed teachers under the project to carry out work of the state government’s project in the routine.

A notice was released from the Department of Education following the impediment of inspection work carried on April 2, 3 and 4. “It is learnt that in the month of April, the Padho Punjab, Padhao Punjab project have been facing difficulties. The order from the state education office over telephone orders CMT/BMT to carry out work of the project. “The teachers associated with the project will not return to their respective schools,” it read.

Teachers across the state representing Sarkari Sikhya Bachao Manch, Punjab have shunned government’s Padho Punjab, Padhao Punjab Project by preventing CMT/BMT (Cluster Master Trainer/Block Master Trainer) under the project from entering government school’s premises for the review of the project.

The teachers pre-arranged for the project are in a fix as neither they are given visiting book and nor is their attendance being marked. Himanshu Garg, a Cluster Master Trainer said, “The teachers do not let us come in when we visit the schools for the review of the project. We are also not given the visiting books for entry during visits. Without the visit, our attendance is not considered in our own schools. The department should provide us with the solution.”

Showing resentment over government policies including seven years transfer policy, non-regularisation of contractual, rationalisation of teachers among many others, Sikhya Bachao Manch Punjab has decided to condemn all policies of government until their demands are met.

Paramjeet, a member of Sikhya Bachao Manch said, "We will boycott every initiative of the government until our demands are not being fulfilled. The rationalisation policy mandates one teacher for every 30 students. Also, no head teacher will be posted in the school of strength below 60 students. If the strength exceeds to 40 students, the post of Headteacher still remains vacant. How can a single teacher handle 40 students?"