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Journalism of Courage
CHANDIGARH, July 27: More than 60,000 lecturers working in government senior secondary schools in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan and Chandigarh, have decided to launch a joint agitation from September 5 Teacher8217;s Day, if the State governments and the Union government do not take necessary steps to improve the working conditions and status of a school lecturer.
Secretary general of North India Federation of School lecturers Amar Singh Hayatpur has, in a release issued here today, alleged that the pay-scales of school lecturers had been lowered by Fourth and Fifth Pay Commissions even as the work-load had increased manifold.
The demands of the federation include a pay-scale of Rs 7,880-13,500, with a start of Rs 8,000 and next promotional scale after four years; nine years and 13 years, and a class II status as given to non-engineering lecturers in State polytechnics.
A school grants commission on the pattern of UGC should be set up to protect the interests of school lecturers. The principals of senior secondary schools should preferably be appointed from among the lecturers.
Another demand pertains to setting up a separate directorate for senior secondary schools and benefits of higher education should also be extended to lecturers working in schools. They have also demanded the shifting of all Plus One and Two classes to schools, in line with the new education policy. A sum of Rs 500 should be given to lecturers taking practicals, they have demanded.
