Teachers left to live only on past memories
The 18 months of lockdown due to the pandemic pushed most teachers into financial crisis
As the nation gets ready to celebrate Teacher’s Day on Sunday, the most touching part of this year will be on how adversely the fraternity has been impacted by Covid-19.
Apart from honouring some with annual awards for distinguished services, an attempt should be made to shift the focus on the plight of the teaching community in private institutions.
The 18 months of lockdown has pushed most teachers into financial despair as schools stopped paying them salaries. Many of them shifted to other available jobs in order to support their aggrieved families.
The situation has been so bad that some had to take up works that were mostly meant for unskilled labour. For instance, a teacher Varalaxmi became a ‘chai’ seller for running the household.
There is a tinge of regret and hurt when she says “We used to feel so proud when they would felicitate us on Teacher’s Day. The pandemic has made us realize that ‘education’ is only a money-making tool for management. Now unable to find any other job, around seven months back I made a firm decision and started selling tea in a push cart.”
On their part, in a collective effort, a bunch of private institutions have started hiring one teacher to handle all classes. Online classes have added to the setback and those retained by their respective institutions are subject to a slash in salaries.
There are around three lakh private teachers in the state. The state government extended help by supplying 25 kgs rice and `2,000 in cash for three months. However, when teachers sought extension of the facility, the government failed to respond.
PADAMATI KALYAN KUMAR,
resident of Moosapet, “I now work in a store. But once things become normal, I will return to the teaching profession. The pandemic has taken a heavy toll.”
GA JUL A SUBBALAXMI,
Telangana Private Teachers Forum’s women’s wing president, said, “80 per cent of the teaching staff in private schools has moved to other professions, including odd jobs like selling vegetables, tea or working as salespersons in malls. Now, the commencement of offline classes has added to their worries. They are scared to return amid fears of a Covid third wave. The government and the management should give confidence to these teachers.”
THE SITUATION has been so bad that some had to take up works that were mostly meant for unskilled labour. For instance, a teacher Varalaxmi became a ‘chai’ seller for running the household.
SREEKANTH MUDIRAJ, a teacher in a school at Lalapet, said “I am the only one from our school to have been retained for online classes but with a 20 per cent cut in my regular salary. Private school managements are hiring only one teacher to take online classes for all students. Teachers who have been removed are compelled to take up odd jobs.”
GADDHE PREMALATHA, resident of Nacharam, said “I am a Telugu teacher living without salary for the past 18 months. Sadly, language teachers are not given any importance and are not considered for online classes. My husband, who is an electrician, was jobless during the lockdown. Depressed at the failing health of our two children and with no hope of any other livelihood, I became a domestic help.”