Teachers back at work,promise results on time

“This year we have called off the strike relatively earlier than the previous year’s agitation. Last year’s strike ended on May 18 and despite that we managed to declare results on time. The situation is better this year,” MFUCTO president Shivaji Patil said Saturday.

A delegation of Pune University Teachers’ Association (PUTA) led by its president Hemlata More met University of Pune (UoP) vice-chancellor Wasudeo Gade Saturday morning and handed him over a letter intimating about withdrawal of teachers’ agitation.

“The vice-chancellor is likely to hold a meeting with us by the end of next week to chalk out plans to expedite the ongoing examination work. We are hopeful that the examination schedule and declaration of results will not be disturbed,” More said.

UoP’s Board of College and University Development director V B Gaikwad,who is also the Controller of Examination,said work of practical examinations in affiliated colleges and assessment of answer-sheets would pick up pace with MFUCTO ending agitation.

“The central assessment programme that involves assessment of students’ answer-sheets have already been initiated at some centres and the work would gain momentum with more teachers resuming work,” he said,assuring results on time.

Releasing of the Sixth Pay Commission arrears between January 1,2006 and January 1,2010,and regularisation of services of the non-NET/SET teachers appointed between September 19,1991 and April 3,2000 were the major demands,in support of which MFUCTO was agitating.

The deadlock over teachers’ demand continued even after several rounds of talks until the Bombay High Court,hearing a petition filed by the students’ union Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad in the matter,gave its verdict on Friday,admonishing both the parties and ensuring students’ interest is protected.