Even as the school teachers affiliated to various associations under the banner Joint Action Council of Tamil Nadu Teachers Organisation (JACTTO) went on a day’s strike, the education department officials claimed that all the government schools functioned as usual without any hindrance.
The teachers participated in the strike to press 15 point charter of demands.
Demands
Their demands included reverting to the old pension scheme; Union Government pay scale, and benefits; s regularisation of services of those appointed between 1986 and 1988 on contract basis, and those appointed between 2004 and 2006 under consolidated pay scales from the date of their employment.
The State Government is implementing 14 welfare programmes for the students of primary schools to higher secondary schools. The involvement of the headmasters and the teachers for the implementation of these programmes affected teaching activities.
The JACTTO demanded nomination of special personnel for the same. The government should also do away with its move to close down the primary schools.
The striking teachers held a demonstration in front of the Collectorate.
G. Murugesan, member, State high power committee of the JACTTO; K. Pari, district president, Tamil Nadu Higher Secondary School PG Teachers Association; K. Chandrasekar, district secretary of the Tamizhaga Aasiriyar Koottani; among others spoke.
A. Gnana Gowri, Chief Educational Officer, claimed that all government schools in the district functioned as usual.
She said that of the 6,663 elementary school teachers, 4,176 (62 per cent) participated in the strike. Only very negligible section of the high and higher secondary school teachers participated in the strike, she said.
The department pressed into service 728 teachers of Karkum Bharatham programme, 691 part time-time teachers, 102 special teachers, 12 DIET lecturers in different schools which registered more than 75 per cent absentees.
Namakkal
The strike by teachers affected regular functioning of many schools in the district. As more than 4,000 teachers went on strike, the officials conducted the schools with part time teachers and noon meal workers.
The teachers held a demonstration on the Park road. Malarkannan, convener, JACTTO; Muthusamy, general secretary, Tamil Nadu Aasiriyar Koottani; and Ilangovan, State president of the Pattadari Aasiriyar Kazhagam, spoke.
Krishnagiri/Dharmapuri
In Krishnagiri, 4,491 teachers boycotted classes. According to the office of the CEO, of the total 8,000 teachers in the district, 3,509 attended schools.
Though most of the schools remained open, even the attendance of students was poor.
Whereever possible, the administration had mobilised SSA trainers, teachers of Karkum Bharatham, and Anganwadi coordinaors to take classes.
In Dharmapuri, over 3,000 teachers stayed away from schools and participated in a protest demonstration.
According to the office of the Chief Education Officer, of the total 8,267 teachers in the district, 5,253 teachers attended classes.
Though officials said more than 50 per cent of the students attended schools in both the districts, unofficial estimates however said the attendance was less than 30 per cent.
A majority of the students did not turn up because they were told in advance about the strike, sources said.
