Tamil Nadu: Secondary school teachers’ protest continues, with the Tamil Nadu government warning that their salaries will be deducted for days they don’t report to work.
The Secondary School Teachers’ Association (SSTA) has been protesting in Chennai since December 26th, demanding equal pay for equal work. Meanwhile, talks between the SSTA administration and School Education Department officials were reported to have reached a mutually agreed solution. However, the talks between the two sides did not proceed to the next stage.
Schools reopened last Monday after the mid-term election holiday, but teachers have not left the protest site.
Consequently, secondary school teachers continued their protest for the 13th day on Wednesday near the Professor Anbazhagan Educational Complex in Nungambakkam, Chennai, demanding an immediate decision on meeting the teachers’ demands. They stated that they would return to school only after a formal announcement.
Impact on students’ studies: Regarding this, Director of Primary Education, P.A. Naresh, sent a circular to all District Education Officers on Wednesday:
With the completion of the second semester exams and the reopening of schools on January 5th, students were immediately provided with third semester textbooks, lesson notes, and welfare packages. Teachers working in those schools did not attend school and joined the protests, which has impacted students’ studies. This has also led to a decline in student learning, teaching, and discipline.
As unpaid leave… Therefore, government employees and teachers who participate in the strike without reporting to work should be considered on unpaid leave, on the basis that they will not receive salary if they do not report to work. Teachers who participate in the strike and do not report to work (except those who are unable to attend due to medical reasons based on a medical certificate) should not be granted any other type of leave. The absence from work should be considered unpaid leave and recorded in the attendance register. Furthermore, it stated that the details of teachers who participated in the strike since January 5th, by date, should be sent to the Directorate of Elementary Education.
