DESAM's ultimatum on part timers' stir
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 10 2011: Setting November 17 as the dead-line for the Government to bring back the agitating part-time lecturers to the class-room, Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) has said failure to resolve the ongoing cease-work strike will compel DESAM and students to launch intense agitation against the Government.

Speaking to news-persons in the presence of student representatives of different higher secondary schools at its Keishampat office today, Desam secretary general M Angamba Meitei expressed concern that consequent to the ceasework strike of part-time lecturers academic activities in higher secondary schools have been severely affected.

Noting that with over 346 part-time lecturers abstaining from duty since November 3 in pursuit of their demands, including payment of minimum basic pay scale, thousands of higher secondary school students have been exposed to uncertainties, academically, Angamba said and added that not resolving the issue at the earliest will mean certain failure to cover the syllabus.

stating that since 1992 part-time lecturers are being engaged to plug the void of lecturers' post in about 34 higher secondaries across the State, he reiterated the demand for an early solution to the present impasse to facilitate the students appear in the forthcoming class XII examination.

Acknowledging predicament of the part-time lecturers, who are paid only Rs 4500 as monthly entitlement compared to dispensing duty at par with the regular teaching staff (lecturers) of higher secondaries even though the latter group draws about Rs 40,000 as monthly salary, he regretted the Government's insensitivity and lack of initiative to mitigate inconveniences faced by the part-timers.

Justifying the demand by the part-time lecturers for provision of minimum basic pay but nevertheless expressing concern that the students have been made the scapegoat in the tussle between the Government and the part-timers, the DESAM functionary opined that the situation merits attention of the Government on priority basis.

Referring to oft-repeated assertion by Ministers and Government officials that education is being accorded utmost importance, Angamba suggested that such proclamations be substantiated with concrete measures to ensure that the students do not suffer any further.

Asserting that only through restoring normal academic chores in higher secondaries will the Government be able to testify its commitment in development of the education sector, he strongly suggested that the Government resolve the ongoing ceasework strike of the part-time lecturers in order to avoid embarrassing confrontation with the suffering students.

Confiding that the students will relentlessly pursue their right to education, he also made a fervent appeal to the agitating part-time lecturers to soften their stand and opt for other form of democratic movement so as to facilitate a negotiated solution to their demands.

It is informed that since the launch of the ceasework strike of part-time lecturers normal academic activities of Johnstone, Ibotonsana, Model, Nambol, Kakching, Ram Lal Paul, Lilong, Lilong Madrasa, Bishnupur, Wangoi and N Tomchou higher secondary schools have been severely effected.

Comment