Minister8217;s directive falls flat

Meanwhile, the Minister8217;s directive has drawn severe flak from the agitating teachers unions who have described Joshi8217;s statement that the government was all prepared to make alternative arrangements for completing the junior college syllabus and conducting the HSC exams on time, as highly misleading.

In a press note issued today, Pune District Junior College Teachers8217; Association has described Joshi8217;s directive as gross contradiction of the facts. They have reiterated that they will go ahead with their proposedmorcha in Mumbai on January 11.

8220;It does not suit the Education Minister of a progressive state to speak the language of running colleges under police protection,8221; the association stated. Over 40,000 junior college teachers struck work since December 10 and are demanding the implementation of revised pay-scale recommended by the Fifth Pay Commission.

Over 25 per cent of the syllabus in the junior colleges remains to be completed and with the strike having stretched for over one month, the academic term of higher secondary students especially has been severely affected. Generally, the HSC practical examination are held in February while the theory exams are conducted in the second week of March.

While the strike has virtually kept the HSC students on tenterhooks about the board exams, the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education has so far not issued any information about the HSC exams.

The board officials have maintained that till date no changes have been made in the exam schedule.