PCCTU to boycott exams

JALANDHAR, Feb 18: The Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers' Union has decided to boycott the university examinations of the Punjab Uni...

JALANDHAR, Feb 18: The Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers8217; Union has decided to boycott the university examinations of the Punjab University, Punjabi University, Guru Nanak Dev University in protest against the anti teacher8217; policy of the Punjab government.

Addressing a rally of teachers here today, PCCTU general secretary Dr V.K. Tewari, while criticising the state government for its policies, demanded immediate release of the revised pay-scales. He also demanded that the long-accepted principle of parity in scales and allowances for the aided colleges be adhered to.

Dr Tewari said the union had sent notices to the Vice-Chancellors of the three universities on boycotting the forthcoming university exams. Denouncing the misleading attitude8217; of the bureaucracy, Dr Tewari regretted that the Chief Minister, who was holding the portfolio of Ministry of Higher Education, had failed to realise the gravity of the situation.

Amritsar: Teachers of all the private colleges of the district observed a four-period lightening strike and held a protest rally and demonstration in the district courts today.

V.K. Sharma, district president, PCCTU, while addressing the rally, condemned the state government for not implementing the University Grants Commission UGC scales. He alleged that the bureaucracy of the Finance Department was creating unnecessary hurdles in the way of implementation of the UGC scales in spite of the fact that 80 per cent of the financial assistance was to be provided by the central government. He also alleged that the government was backing out of its commitment of 95 per cent grant-in-aid to private colleges.

FATEHGARH SAHIB: In response to a call given by the PCCTU, the teaching staff of the Mata Gujri College here observed strike today in favour of their demands and staged a dharna on the college campus. In a press release, local unit president Harashwinder Singh and secretary Harbans Singh Tiwana criticised the attitude of the government towards their demands.