Teachers protest education policy of state government

Amritsar, December 15

On the call of Joint Action Committee comprising the representatives of Principal Federation, Management Federation, Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union and Non-Teaching Employees Union, protest rallies were organised against the anti-education policies of the government in all affiliated and government-aided private colleges here today.

The financial crisis due to non-release of salary grants to colleges for the last 18 months had brought all the protesters on one platform. In a meeting of the Joint Action Committee held at Ludhiana on December 6 it was decided that the ongoing examinations being conducted by all the three universities – Punjab, Punjabi and GNDU – be boycotted on December 15 and 19. It was also decided to hold gate rallies to protest against the unwarranted delay in the release of grants.

Addressing a rally at DAV College, Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union general secretary HS Walia said, the entire higher education system had collapsed due to the financial crunch resulting from the non-release of grants meant for the payment of salaries under 95 per cent grant-in- aid scheme.

He said colleges and employees were trapped in vicious cycle of debt. Around 75 per cent of colleges were on the brink of closure. He added that the ban imposed on the recruitment of employees since June 2005 had weakened aided colleges financially.

He said the state government had never given grants meant for providing the infrastructure in colleges.

The representatives of the Principals, teaching and non-teaching employees had met the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister several times for release of pending grants, but to no avail. —TNS