Teachers: Regularise our jobs in govt-aided schools

Teachers of government-aided schools of the city have complained of the injustice done to them over the temporary jobs arrangement. They want the state government to regularise their jobs, giving them the status of permanent teachers.

It’s been nine months a large number of teachers have been working on a temporary basis at various schools. They were hired on contract for a fixed-term of three, six or even 12 months. They have been paid a ‘paltry’ salary, on terms of the management of the school or the recruiting parties. In addition, unlike permanent teachers, the temporary teachers don’t even get any government privileges or benefits, despite working in the same government-aided school.

In a recent order, the state education ministry said it would fill all vacant posts of teachers. But the state did not give any direction to regularise the temporary teachers’ jobs, they said.

Raghunath Vishwakarma, a teacher, said, “The state wants to appoint new teachers but has little regard for those already working on temporarily or part-time basis. We want to be hired as fulltime and treated at par with them. Despite working as part-time teachers, we know all the students and syllabus, but the state ignores us.”

The temporary teachers revealed their plan of joining private schools if it continues to happen. Sharon D’costa, another teacher said, “If we aren’t getting paid for the work we do, we will be compelled to explore opportunities at private schools, who pay much better. Also, due to our contractual nature, we are deprived of benefits, pensions or privileges.”

Members of Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of schools expressed distress and said it would directly affect the students. A senior member of PTA said, “Wards’ studies will be adversely hit if the teachers quit jobs after every semester. Students build a relationship with teachers, who help them grow as a person, but if the schools change teachers, kids’ growth will be hampered.”

Another PTA member said, “If teachers are not paid, they will teach halfheartedly, affecting the class environment. We should look at the bigger picture and cater to temporary teachers.”