SATB expresses concern over the issue of increasing the teaching hours for teachers

NEWS ITEM

The South Andaman Teachers’ Branch of the Non-Gazetted Govt. Officers’ Association has called upon the authorities in the Administration not to increase the working hours of teachers working under the Education Department. In a resolution adopted in the recently held Annual General Body Meeting of the South Andaman Teachers’ Branch, the Association noted with grave concern and anguish that the authorities in the Education Department are trying unilaterally to increase the working hours of the teachers from 6 hours to 7 ½ hours in the guise of implementing the Right of Children to Free & Compulsory Education Act, 2009. The meeting observed that the Directorate of Education is trying to increase the teaching hours without taking the service associations functioning among the teachers into confidence. The meeting noted that Andaman Nicobar Islands is the first state/union territory to increase the working hours of teachers on the basis of the provisions in the Right to Education Act, 2009. The meeting observed that while the Association is not against implementing the said legislation which is an historical step towards universalisation of education, various provisions of this Act are yet to be implemented in the Islands. The meeting noted that in a large number schools in the islands, the basic infrastructure facilities like proper buildings, bench and desk, toilets, etc. are not provided. Many of the schools do not have proper and safe drinking water facilities for the students and teachers. In many of the schools at Port Blair, student-teacher ratio is more than what is provided in the said Act.

The General Body meeting resolved to demand the authorities in the Administration and Education Department not to increase the working hours of the teachers till all other provisions of the Right to Education Act, 2009 like providing infrastructural facilities, reducing teacher-student ratio etc., are implemented in the islands

Secretary

South Andaman Teachers' Branch