HYDERABAD: As many as 1,936 contract teachers working in Ashram Schools are likely to lose their jobs. Most of the teachers, who have been working in the schools for the last 15 years, have been left in the lurch with the government not renewing their services from the current academic year.Teachers, who have been boycotting classes since the school reopened on June 1 after summer vacation, planned to stage a protest near the Chief Minister’s camp office on Friday. The teachers, however, were stalled by the police at Punjagutta and taken to the Goshamahal police station. Undeterred, they said that if their contracts were not renewed and their services not regularised, they would resort to hunger strike in the coming days.
There are 283 Ashram Schools in the State catering to the education of tribal children from different communities like Adivasis, Lambadas, Koya and Chenchu in Agency areas.M Shobhan Naik, State president of Girijan Sangham, said that since their appointment in 2003, the teachers had been neglected by government and paid low wages despite the heavy workload.
There are 100 Ashram Schools in just the three districts of Adilabad, Khammam and Warangal, and they are running only with the help of contract teachers. There is a fear that if the teachers are not taken back, the quality of teaching will suffer, the enrolment rate will fall and schools for tribal children will eventually shut down.Further, poor performance in SSC results by students of tribal welfare schools is being touted as the result of inadequate teaching staff and poor monitoring of residential educational institutions in the Agency mandals.
“Unlike the permanent teachers, who are paid `60,000 to `70,000 a month, contract residential teachers take home a meagre `12,000 a month and there are no additional benefits or incentives. But unlike the permanent teachers, these are required to stay in the hostels too along with the wardens,” he said.
Teachers allege that loss of employment has plunged several families into despair. “Ten teachers have committed suicide in the state. And if we are not taken back and regularised, what option will be left for us? Having to maintain families without any income is causing tremendous psychological and financial stress to us,” said K Pratima, a teacher from Adilabad.