The imbroglio over evaluation of answer scripts of the Pre-University annual examinations-2016 due to the boycott by PU teachers continued for the 16th day, even as the alternative arrangements made by the government for evaluation work failed to take off here on Monday.
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None of the eight teachers roped in from the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET), one of whom stated to be a physical instructor, were able to code the answer scripts, the first step involved in the evaluation process at Jyoti College, one of the four evaluation centres in the city. All the eight DIET teachers were seen discussing among themselves at the staff room of the college on how to go about the process.
The dilemma, according to S.B. Doddamani, Vice-President of Karnataka State PU College Principals Association, was due to the fact they were not given any training on the process of coding and de-coding. Yet, the government engaged them for such an important work.
He said the government, particularly Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Kimmane Ratnakar were indulging in arm-twisting methods by sending show cause notices through SMS to the agitating teachers and also directing them to start evaluation work from Monday.
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The Minister had said that he would rope in 7,000 teachers, including those retired from service, to commence theevaluation process. At least 60 to 80 teachers were needed at each of 46 centres in the State, who would take at least two days only to complete the coding process. At Jyoti College centre, there were only eight teachers and they were not aware of the coding procedure.
Mr. Doddamani said the ball was in the government’s court now and that the agitation of teachers had come a long way and there was no going back. “We are not asking anything unreasonable, we will start evaluation and complete it in 10 days; but let the Chief Minister declare that he will implement the Kumar Nayak report.” Further, Mr. Doddaman said: “Let the government promise to consider two increments to begin with and resolve the row if it has any concern for the teachers. We will withdraw the stir.”
But nothing less than implementation of the Kumar Nayak report was acceptable to the teachers who had been agitating against pay disparities for nearly two decades. Even the present boycott plan was conveyed to the Minister months earlier. Though the Minister had assured us of resolving the issue ahead of the evaluation schedule, he failed to do so, Mr. Doddamanai told newsmen.
‘Inefficient’
Mr. Doddamani, who is also president of the Belagavi District PU Teachers Association, said the DIET teachers were not efficient to evaluate PU answer scripts. “If they still went ahead with evaluation and if there were any lapses even by a half-mark which would eventually bring down a student’s ranking considerably, we will not be responsible for any consequences.”