Soni rules out compromise with protesting teachers

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 8

Punjab School Education Minister OP Soni has ruled out any compromise with the teachers, who are protesting under the banner of the Sanjha Adhyapak Morcha in Patiala.

The teachers, under the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), are protesting against the Punjab government’s offer of job regularisation with a hefty cut in their salaries. They have been protesting since October 3 against the Punjab government’s policy of regularisation.

A delegation of the Sarkari School Sikhya Bachao Manch met Soni and submitted a memorandum of their demands, including regularisation of the services of education providers.

“The unions have a right to protest and they can hold it after school hours. No protest will be tolerated at the cost of studies of students,” he added.

Sukhjinder Singh, Ranjit Singh and Baldev Singh Buttar were among the manch representatives who met the minister. The minister asked the teachers not to perform clerical work in their schools.

Meanwhile, 5,178 master cadre teachers observed a black Diwali by holding a protest against the state government. They held a protest from Bhandari Bridge to Jallianwala Bagh. “The government must understand the issues of the teachers. We think the matter can be resolved by holding talks,” a union leader said.