Jr college teachers want more pay, to boycott Class 12 exams

VASHI: About 500 teachers from the city's junior colleges took part in a protest on Monday to demand an upgrade in their pay scale as per the central government’s sixth pay commission.

The teachers took out a protest march from Vashi railway station to the office of Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, Mumbai division, at St. Lawrence High School road in Vashi, and submitted a proposal to the board officials demanding implementation of recommendations of sixth pay commission, raising teachers’ retirement age to 60 years and allowing junior college administration to fill up vacant posts of teachers independently.

The board officials assured them that they would put forward their demands to the state government for action.

The teachers have threatened to boycott Class 12 board examinations if their demands are not met.

“We have been pleading with the state government and education department to fulfil our demands.

The authorities have been assured us that they will look into the issues but nothing has happened. We have no other alternative but to protest," said Amar Singh, president of Mumbai Junior College Teachers' Union.

Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, Mumbai division president Laxmikant Pandey said, “We hope the teachers’ stand does not affect the studies of the students. We will convey the teachers’ demands to the state government.

“The teachers’ threat to boycott Class 12 board examination is highly condemnable. If they boycott exams, the board will make arrangements,” he said.

BACHCHAN KUMAR Junior college teachers during a protest march to the office of higher secondary education board in Vashi on Monday.