Teachers seek jobs, rue govt apathy

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, July 22

Teachers, under the banner of the Revised PSTET 2011 Merit Holders in 3,442, 5,178 Unemployed Teachers Union have been raising their voice against the Education Department.

They said: “We had appeared for the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) in 2011, but could not make it to the merit list because of the issues in questions, adding that they had challenged four questions in the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2012.”

“The judgement came in our favour and we were considered passed and came under merit. Despite that, we have not been appointed by the department yet,” said the teachers.

“Those who were appointed that time, under 3442 master cadre have been drawing salary up to Rs 50,000, but we are meeting the minister concerned and the Education Secretary besides holding press conferences,” rued one of the teachers.

The teachers have been holding meetings in various districts and have given a new slogan, ‘Jai Janta, Jai sangharsh’, adding that they will carry on their fight for their rights.

Lately, they had met the Education Minister Vijay Inder Singla, and demanded that they must be given jobs.

Around six months ago, the unemployed teachers had gathered from all over the state, including Malerkotla, Dinanagar, Amritsar and other districts and had held a protest here.

The teachers said they must be employed by the department as soon as possible as it was their right to get recruited.

“How we will survive in this situation. We are not asking for anything illegal,” said the teachers.