COLLEGE CHAOS

40k teachers to boycott exams over arrears

Yogita Rao TNN

Mumbai: It will be a testing time for students from colleges and universities across the state this exam season as over 40,000 college teachers have called a massive boycott of examination work, including practicals, supervision and evaluation.
    The boycott will affect not only the university exams, but also in-house college exams. Around 20,000 contractual teachers might also join the agitation.
    The Maharashtra Federation of University and College Teachers Organisation (MFUCTO) called the boycott as the state government had failed to meet its assurances on the Sixth Pay Commission arrears disbursal. On May 16 the state government had given a written assurance that teachers would get the cash
components in the arrears in two instalments. The teachers are demanding arrears for the 2006-2010 period.
    “We are trying to mobilize over 20,000 contractual teachers in the state who are not getting the minimum wages as per the new pay commission,” MFUCTO secretary Tapati Mukhopadhyay said. “While the new scale is around Rs 20,000-25,000, the contractual teachers are getting around Rs 8,000-10,000.”
    While a boycott had been called last year too, it was restricted to evaluation work.
    Higher and technical education minister Rajesh Tope said the state government was supposed to give only 20 per cent of the arrears and had asked the Centre to disburse the remainder. “Teachers should be more patient,” he said. “They should not take any steps that would hurt the career of students. We are also bringing up the issue in the cabinet in the coming week.” 

 

 

Source:::: The Times of India, 15-01-2013, p.5,  http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Client.asp?Daily=TOIM&showST=true&login=default&pub=TOI&Enter=true&Skin=TOINEW&AW=1358247356515