Schoolteachers, who worked with the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan and Adarsha Vidyalayas on contract basis, called off their fast at Freedom Park here on Thursday after Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Kimmane Ratnakar promised to look into their demands in 15 days. The teachers are seeking regularisation of services.
The teachers were appointed on contract basis by a private agency in August 2011 and the contract ended in April.
Thimmaiah, an office-bearer of the Karnataka State Government Model Schools and Upgraded High School Outsourced Teachers Welfare Association, said: “We have worked for the welfare of the schools and the students for two academic years and now they have sent us back.”
Pushpa M.A., who used to teach social science at Government Upgraded High School, Kengeri, said: “Even a fortnight ago, Education Department officials made oral promises that we would be hired again on contract basis for the current academic year. The Minister said that the issue would be taken up in the Assembly. So we have not made any alternative plans and did not even consider looking for other jobs.”
She also added that the teachers did everything in school from working in the office as clerks to taking lessons for students and even cleaning the premises. L.T. Naik, who taught English at Adarsha Vidyalaya, Harpanahalli, Davangere district, said: “We have been taking remedial classes for students. We have worked very hard and students have secured 100 per cent results in our school.”
Some teachers claimed they were the breadwinners of their families. R. Umesh, who taught at the RMSA school in Bagalkot district, said: “My wife and two children are dependent on me. For the past two months, I have been borrowing money from my friends and family as we have no other source of income.”
However, sources in the Primary and Secondary Education Department said the government had nothing to do with them. “They were hired by a private agency and worked on contract basis as per certain terms and conditions.”
