Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Apr 14: The evaluation of the just-concluded SSLC examinations in the state is to take place from April 15 onwards at various centres across the state. However, Karnataka State High School Teachers Association’s move to boycott the evaluation work has put the plans of the government in jeopardy.

The Association has taken this step because of the government’s reluctance to meet its various pending demands.  It says that the government has been harassing the teachers by not paying the daily allowance, setting right pay anomalies, not paying Kannada qualification increments and enhanced evaluation allowance. “When a delegation of the Association had met education minister, Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri in September last, he had promised to meet most of the 19 pending demands. But nothing has been done since. Hence, boycotting is the only way left to pressurize the government to meet the pending demands,” the Association said.

The teachers are getting the evaluation allowance at the rates fixed several years back. Demand on wage parity continues unattended since 1996. In spite of court orders, Kannada increments have not been sanctioned. Even in the payment of daily allowance for works on office duty, the government has been inordinately delaying disbursement, the teachers rue.

The district level office bearers of the Association will be present at the appointed time at the SSLC evaluation centres on April 15 and then suspend the evaluation work, as per a decision taken at the central committee level, it is learnt. At a preliminary meeting held sometime back at the state level, the teachers have decided not to wilt under pressure tactics or threat of disciplinary action, and not to undertake evaluation work until the state level office bearers instruct them to the contrary.