Teachers across state unite to protest pending demands

Jaipur: Teachers from across the state have united and planned different protests throughout the summer vacation to raise their issues. The primary issue being raised by them is the 10-day deduction in summer holidays and non-academic work assigned to them.

On Monday, teachers started their protest with a symbolic funeral procession of the education minister from Ramganj Mandi in Kota, the Assembly constituency represented by the minister.

“Considering the geographical conditions of Rajasthan and the scarcity of resources available in schools, the arbitrary cuts imposed on summer vacations are completely impractical and inhumane,” said Ramdayal Meena, state general secretary of Shikshak Sangh (Siyaram).

Ranjeet Meena, state president of Rajasthan Shikshak Sangh (Ekikrit), said that the combined protest by teachers makes it clear that education minister Madan Dilawar "does not take the legitimate demands of teachers' associations and individual teachers seriously—a fact that explains why the teachers of the state are currently feeling so disheartened."

"I have a clear demand for the minister- first to stop issuing new statements that serve only to humiliate teachers; and secondly, he must, at the very least, resolve some of the demands that are directly linked to the welfare and interests of the state's teaching community," said Meena.

Last week, the Rajasthan Shikshak Sangh (Shekhawat) burnt effigies of the education minister at district headquarters across the state. Teachers alleged that due to the minister’s indifferent attitude, Grade III teachers have not been promoted for almost seven years now.

“Consequently, thousands of posts for senior teachers in subjects such as Mathematics, English and Science remain vacant, causing significant academic detriment to students,” said Mahavir Sihag, state president of Rajasthan Shikshak Sangh (Shekhawat).

Teachers also said that due to the failure to implement the teacher rationalisation and staffing pattern, thousands of schools with low enrolment across the state currently have a surplus of teachers, while schools with high enrolment are staffed by only a nominal number of teachers.

“Consequently, thousands of posts for senior teachers in subjects such as Mathematics, English, and Science remain vacant, causing significant academic detriment to students,” said Mahavir Sihag, state president of Rajasthan Shikshak Sangh (Shekhawat).