Assam State Primary Teachers’ Association (ASPTA) Boycott Class For 3 Days

GUWAHATI: The Assam State Primary Teachers’ Association (ASPTA) is boycotting classes from February 4-6 in support of their various demands. Maximum primary schools across the state remained closed on Monday. Although students came for their regular classes, the teachers had to send them back. “It is with heavy hearts that we had to ask them to return home. It is for the long term good of the students that our demands are seen through”, a teacher commented.

The teachers’ body earlier boycotted classes statewide on January 11 and held a rally in Guwahati where they set a 15-day deadline for the State government to fulfill their demands. The teachers’ body had to announce the fresh agitation as its deadline has already expired and the government has not done anything to fulfill their demands as yet.

The demands of the association are – creating posts head teachers and making payment in accordance with the Seventh Pay Commission Recommendations; regularization of the services of teachers who are not getting their salaries and contractual teachers; reintroduction of Rs 8,700 grade pay that was taken away from graduate teachers; provincialization of non-provincialized educational institutions; making a teacher a class a reality etc. In a statement issued to the press on Saturday, Association general secretary Ratul Chandra Goswami said: “The State Education Minister gave us a written assurance to fulfill our demands on June 19, 2018, but to no avail. In protest against such negligence, we’re boycotting classes for the three days.”

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