Teachers up in arms over orders to attend colleges

Lovleen Bains

Sahnewal, May 5

Teachers of various private colleges today wore black badges to protest against the stubborn attitude of the government for not allowing them to work from home at a time when Covid-19 cases are surging.

Dr Vinay Sofat, president, Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union (PCCTU), said on one hand, the state government had imposed a partial lockdown and had been encouraging people to stay home to curb the spread of the virus but on the other hand, it had told teachers to report to colleges physically.

“The attitude of the officials in the Higher Education Department toward teachers is cold, indifferent and stubborn,” he alleged, adding: “I have written a letter to the Chief Minister and have also reached out to him on his Twitter handle requesting to direct the Education Department to allow teachers to work from home as the situation is becoming more alarming.”

Prof Sukhdev Singh Randhawa, state secretary, of PCCTU said Education Minister Tript Rajinder Bajwa assured the representatives of the PCCTU that the Department would take the matter in cognisance. Dr Bikramjit Singh Sandhu, president, PCCTU, Patiala and Fatehgarh Sahib, said the Sandhu had subsequently instructed the officials of the Higher Education Department to issue the circular to colleges for allowing teachers to work from home.

“Sadly, Higher Education Secretary adopted an indifferent attitude toward college teachers. The Secretary has allowed teachers of Guru Nanak Dev University to work from home but teachers of private colleges,” leaders said. The leaders also alleged that the Secretary, in order to delay the matter, had deliberately sent the file to the state Department of Home Affairs.

“The representatives of the PCCTU have telephonically and via SMS requested the Higher Education Secretary to allow college teachers to work from home but he has turned a blind eye to their request. When the Education Minister has completely empathised with teachers, how the Higher Education Department can be so indifferent,” union members said.