Notices to teachers in four districts

MUKTSAR : The state education department has issued notices to teachers in Barnala, Mansa, Ferozepur and Fazilka districts for protesting against the ‘Padho Punjab, Padhao Punjab’ programme of the state government.

On Saturday, teachers raised anti-government slogans against testing students of Classes 1-5 for their learning levels. Protests were also reported from Theri village in Gidderbaha sub-division of Muktsar. “Teachers are not co-operating in the Padho Punjab project. In Ferozepur, we have issued show-cause notices to seven teachers and termination notices to five. Seven teachers have been charge-sheeted,” said Sukhwinder Singh, deputy DEO (elementary), Ferozepur.

Elementary Teacher Union (ETU) state convener Amandeep Sharma said, “The department has served notices on teachers in Barnala, Mansa, Ferozepur and Fazilka. They are trying to suppress us. We will not allow testing in schools.”

Harry Bathla, Muktsar district president, ETU, said, “The project is not beneficial for students. We will not allow the testing of students. We will intensify our struggle.” Mansa DEO (elementary) Rupinder Heer said, “Teachers are causing hindrance in testing under the project. On Saturday, testing was conducted only in one village in Mansa, after I convinced villagers.”

Maninder Kaur, DEO, Barnala, said, “On Friday, department initiated testing in five schools but we could complete the process only in two schools. Three teachers have been suspended in Barnala.”

“With the use of police on Friday, there is fear in minds of students, parents and teachers. This is a setback for education,” said Harpreet Singh, a Muktsar-based activist. Speaking to HT over phone, Kulwinder Kaur, DEO, Fazilka, said, “We have served notices to teams to ensure that the process moves smoothly. Appropriate action will be taken against teachers.”

RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN ASKED TO COORDINATE WITH THE PANCHAYATS ACROSS THE STATE

FOR THE PURPOSE