Education Minister urges vocational teachers to end strike, assures action against erring company

Education Minister Rohit Thakur today advised the protesting vocational teachers to end their protest and re-join their duties. Hundreds of vocational teachers have started a protest in Shimla, demanding that the companies acting as a link between them and the Education Department be removed. The protesting teachers alleged that some of these companies have not paid their salary arrears, adding that the government should remove these companies and deal directly with the vocational teachers “to end this exploitation”.

Vocational courses for Class IX-XII were started in 2013, in 1100 schools across the state. At present, around 15 vocational courses are offered to the students in these schools. Over 2,000 vocational teachers were hired through the companies by the department to run vocational courses in schools.

Responding to the demand of the protesting vocational teachers to oust companies, Thakur said the vocational teachers were being managed through companies across the country, barring a couple of states. “Except for one company, the other 16 have paid the arrears to the teachers. The company which has not paid the arrears has already been issued a show-cause notice by the authorities concerned,” he said.

“In case the explanation is not found satisfactory, suitable action will be taken,” he added. Meanwhile, the protesting teachers have decided to continue their protest until they are called for a dialogue by the government.