HYDERABAD: Nearly 2.5 lakh private school teachers across the State participated in the bandh call given by the Telangana Private Teachers Forum (TPTF) resulting in the closure of 12,000 private schools on Wednesday.
In Hyderabad, nearly 6,000 schools including those affiliated to SSC, CBSE and other international boards, had declared a holiday fearing no-show by teachers.
Those that decided to stay open had to employ non-teaching staff to engage students in the absence of teachers.
In a first-of-its-kind bandh call by the private teachers association, teachers are demanding implementation of GO MS No1 1994 in private schools, health cards and 12-months pay, better facilities and incentives like PF and ESI among others.
Calling the bandh a great success, TPTF president Sheik Shabbir Ali said that the protest of this magnitude was essential to get the message across to the government in particular and public in general about the plight of teachers in private schools.
“Teachers in private schools boycotted duties across the state to highlight their legitimate demands of job security, health cards and accident insurance, PF, ESP, recognition to our union and welfare board for private teaches. We are hopeful that the government will focus on our issues and take it up with the private school management,” said Shabbir Ali.
A charter of 12 demands of the TPTF pertaining to the welfare and security of the teachers was submitted to all the district collectors and mandal education officers (MEOs). V Mahesh, a teacher said that due to a lack of regulations in private schools, teachers were treated like slaves.
“We have to work from 7 am to 7 pm, all Saturdays and holidays too. For two months during summer vacation we don’t get salaries,” the teacher said.
Charter of demands
Implement GO MS No1. 1994
Implement RTE Act and reserve 25 per cent of seats to needy students
Recognition to private teachers association
5 lakh Health cards and accident insurance
Salary for 12 months to be transferred online
Provide ESI, ESP and PF benefits
Create a Pvt teachers welfare board
5,000 Teachers above the age of 50 should be paid 5,000 as pension