KANNUR: After the nurses’ struggle demanding revision of pay as per the Supreme Court has cooled down, the teachers of unaided private schools are readying themselves to launch a state-wide protest demanding better payment.
The association members have called for a joint-meeting in August to discuss the plight of teachers in the private sector. According to them, though they have submitted several requests before the state government to form a law safeguarding the rights of the teachers in unaided schools, the decision was never taken.
“The plight of school teachers in unaided schools has never been discussed. A majority of the teachers in private schools is paid less than Rs 7,000 a month,” the Kerala Unaided School Teachers Organisation state president Jaison Joseph told Express.
There are about 3.5 lakh teachers in private schools across the state, teaching more than 20 lakh students. They are not entitled to any privileges such as provident fund. The conditions of some are so pathetic, they cannot take their plea to a labour court as no law exits in the state for their protection.
“A majority of the teachers in the sector is exploited by the managements. We have been continuously requesting the government to implement a law. But nothing has worked out so far. Hence, we are on the move to intensify our demands,” he said.
According to the members, their demands are as genuine as the nurses who protested demanding revision of pay as per the Supreme Court directive. “The situation of the teachers in unaided schools is the same. Even after being a post-graduate with M.Phil or B. Ed, they are paid a pittance,” he said.
The association is set to demand the same pay scale of teachers in government institution along with other privileges.