Kamal Kumar Biswas.TOD.Balurghat
Primary school teachers in South Dinajpur stepped up their demands for better infrastructure, professional security and improved working conditions on Thursday, submitting a 12-point memorandum to the Chairman and secretary of the District Primary School Council.The memorandum was submitted by the Nikhil Banga Prathamik Shikshak Samiti and the Sara Bangla Prathamik Shikshak Samiti, left-leaning primary teachers’ organisations that said a number of recent government decisions concerning primary education and teachers’ service conditions had created growing concern.
The teachers called for immediate improvements to school infrastructure, including access to safe drinking water and adequate toilet facilities. They also sought the provision of school uniforms for students.Among their other demands were the implementation of a transfer policy based on the Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR), the withdrawal of the existing SOP, and the appointment of teachers according to class requirements in every primary school. The organisations also called for the introduction of scientifically designed new textbooks at the primary level.The memorandum also highlighted the need for greater access to technology in schools. Teachers demanded internet connectivity, computers, projectors, printers and smart boards to strengthen classroom teaching and modernise the primary education system.
The organisations further urged the authorities to stop what they described as mental harassment of teachers through their deployment for census and other government duties. They also demanded that teachers not be assigned work unrelated to education.Other demands included an end to the privatisation of the government education system and the withdrawal of the decision requiring teachers appointed before 2011 to appear for the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) again.The teachers also called for the timely release of funds required to operate the Mid-Day Meal programme, permanent staff appointments at the District Primary School Council and all educational circles, and the prompt payment of outstanding dearness allowance (DA).
The organisations said that swift action on the 12 demands would help strengthen the government primary education system while addressing the longstanding concerns of teachers and improving conditions for students.The memorandum comes amid wider concerns among teachers’ organisations in West Bengal over infrastructure, staffing, administrative workload and service-related policies affecting primary education.
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