The Karnataka State Pre-University College Teachers' Association has decided to boycott II PU evaluation, as the Thursday deadline for the government to meet their demands passed without a ruling in their favour.
This comes despite Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda and Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri promising to hold discussions with representatives of the lecturers here on April 19, appealing to them to refrain from precipitating matters and putting students to hardship. The Minister, soon after the Cabinet meeting, said evaluation of the answer scripts was in full swing and exuded confidence that lecturers would extend their support.
However, the lecturers argued that the evaluation would probably be over by April 19.
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The PU lecturers are demanding, among other things, pay parity with those of degree colleges who are under the UGC pay scales.
“We are not happy to boycott evaluation, but we have been making these demands for two years now,” said S.K. Shakeel Ahmed, general secretary of the association.
On April 8, members of the association met Mr. Kageri and decided to wait till the matter was taken up at the Cabinet meeting on Thursday.
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But, with the new date being set for consideration of the lecturers' demands, a core committee formed by the association and other supporting associations decided to go ahead with the boycott.
‘Won't affect CET'
Citing last year's example, Mr. Ahmed was confident that the boycott would not have a ripple effect on the announcement of results and the Common Entrance Test (CET).
As many as 15,732 evaluators have been deputed for the work at 37 centres across the State.
Meanwhile, a section of PU lecturers has decided not to support the boycott, “keeping the interests of the students and parents in mind”. A member of the Karnataka State Secondary Teachers' Association said they had accepted the government's decision to consider their issues after April 19.