Contract lecturers warn
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 10 2014:
Contract lecturers of Government Higher Secondary Schools have cautioned the Government that they would stay away from examination duties of the upcoming Class X and XII examinations if their service is not regularised by February 15 .
Speaking at a press conference, Association of All Manipur Government Higher Secondary Contract Lecturers general secretary Kh Wangkhei decried the Government for undermining the demand for regularisation of contract lecturers, who have been serving in different Government higher secondary schools, since past 20 years.
He said that the Government removed Class XI and XII from Government colleges at a time when higher secondary schools were facing the problem of inadequacy of teachers.
To make up the required teaching manpower, the Government started appointment of contract lecturers (erstwhile part-time lectures) on phase-wise basis starting 1992, he said.
Although, the contract lecturers started working at the remuneration of Rs 1000, they worked just like as regular teachers.
Acknowledging the contribution of contract lecturers, the State Government prepared a State Draft Policy for these teachers and notified on the State Gazette.
Although the draft policy clearly mentioned about regularisation of contract teachers, no step has been initiated so far in this regard, he added.
Wangkhei further said that the State Government had not only regularised 108 teachers in 2000 but also recruited 570 primary teachers.
Moreover, under SSA, 1500 teachers, 600 Graduate teachers and 450 RMSA teachers had been recruited.
However, the demand of regularisation of long suffered higher secondary teachers has been undermined on the excuse of weak economic condition of the Government, he added.