Teachers protest govt’s inaction on education issues

The Khanna unit of the Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers’ Union (PCCTU) staged a two-period protest today at the college campus. The protest was organised in response to the state government’s failure to address long-standing problems related to higher education and its repeated failure to fulfil previous promises.

The protest aimed to send a message to the state government, warning if the problems remain unresolved, the union would be forced to take more stringent actions. During the protest, all teachers unitedly raised their demands, hoping for a swift resolution from the government.

The president of the district unit of the union, Dr Chamakaur Singh, stated the state government had completely failed to meet its commitments. He said, “Resolving problems related to higher education is crucial to preserving the educational system in the state. Educationists remain the most neglected group by any government. The pressing problems are not only hindering the growth and efficiency of the higher education system but also affecting the academic environment and the future of both students and educators.” He appealed to the government to address these concerns without delay.

The union’s demands include the release of revised salary grants in line with the 7th pay commission, regularisation of salary grants, the inclusion of additional posts under the 95 per cent grant-in-aid scheme, parity in refresher course relaxations, the establishment of a regulatory authority for higher education, the creation of professor posts in aided colleges, the implementation of a pension and gratuity scheme, proper maintenance of CPF, house rent allowances for staff in rural colleges, the restoration of the retirement age for principals to 60 years and a uniform academic calendar across all universities.

The union members said if the state government continues to ignore their demands, they would be compelled to take more aggressive measures in future protests. They said they hoped the government would take immediate action in the best interests of both students and teachers.