Simply Punjab: 50 teacher unions on different paths fail to make impact on government

On the roads for more than three decades against the Punjab government, nearly 50 unions of school teachers have not been able to formulate a single charter of demands, resulting in dispersed efforts and a weak impact.As a result, the state is strewn with images of protesting teachers braving water cannons, bearing lathis, and staging dharnas. Some are perched on water tanks.As Vikram Dev Singh, president of the Democratic Teachers Front, says, “There was only one body called the Sanjha Government Teachers Union till 1986. The government used to respond by calling meetings and considering their demands. The developments featured regularly on the BBC.”He says, “Beginning with splinter groups, new platforms emerged based on the common interests of smaller groups. By way of example, when I was called for a meeting by the education department in 2016, there were more than 60 representatives sitting in a cramped room. As expected, there was no meaningful discussion, and no one was heard.”DisintegrationA former convenor of the Sanjha Adhyapak Morcha, Davinder Singh Punia, says, “Originally, the Sanjha Government Teachers Union controlled the scene. It was a left-dominated front. Things started changing for teachers after 1986. The DTF started aligning itself with Marxist-Leninist leanings, and the Government Teachers Union became the front for the CPI and CPI(M). The breakaway group of the DTF joined the Naga Reddy faction of the CPI(ML). Those with Akali leanings formed the Adhyapak Dal.”After the slow fragmentation of the core group, new unions were formed with separate interests. These included Scheduled Caste teachers, physical training (PT) teachers, and teachers of elementary education, science, commerce, mathematics, and vocational skills, among others.Certain important unions include two factions of the Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF), the Elementary Teachers Union (ETU) Punjab, the Punjab Teachers’ Association (PTA), the Education Providers Union Punjab, the Meritorious Teachers Union, the Aided School Employees’ Association, the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) Teachers Union Punjab, and the NCHD Feeder Teachers Association Punjab. School clerks also have a separate organisation.Interestingly, there are teacher unions named after numbers, such as the 2,364 Elementary Teachers Union, the 3,704 Master Cadre Teachers Union, and the 3,654 Meritorious Teachers Union, among several others. These numbers represent the size of the teacher cohort recruited in particular recruitment drives, says Punia.Working on a common platformVikram Dev Singh says, “One major development in recent times has been more teacher unions coming together. The two rival factions of the DTF have joined hands and are working with another major body, the Government Teachers Union (GTU). At least 10 more have approached us to join the common programme. Since most unions are small in numbers, it would make sense if they all came together.”He said there had been different groups of teachers under different heads earlier as well, such as the Sanjha Morcha in the 1990s; however, these groups could not sustain a common programme. Similar efforts continue even today on many fronts, but a unified group would definitely have a stronger and louder voice.Government Teachers Union (GTU) president Sukhwinder Chahal says, “We do go together with the DTF for a few demonstrations; however, we are not one. The GTU has its own constitution and is the oldest organisation. We have held seven elections and are still trying to bring others into it.”Teachers’ issuesOld teachers are opposing the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for promotions. Under the scheme, teachers recruited before 2011 are required to pass the TET to qualify for promotions. At the same time, sources point out that a sizable number of teachers have already appeared for the examination. Teachers who have been teaching for nearly two decades say the move is unjust.Teachers regularised in 2023 say they have not received full pay scales, service rules, or benefits like medical reimbursement and the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).Teachers oppose regular deployment for election and census duties. This session, both activities are lined up.Teachers in government-aided schools say they have not been paid salaries for more than a year.Middle school teachers are being posted to senior schools in several places. Besides affecting the teachers’ work profile, this is also impacting staffing requirements in middle schools.Teachers complain about staff shortages and job dissatisfaction. There are scores of schools in border areas such as Bet, Mand, and Machhiwara that are functioning with just one teacher. There are also schools where part-time teachers are deputed from neighbouring schools.Official responseTalking to The Tribune correspondent, Education Minister Harjot Bains says, “There are different sets of problems for different issues. We are doing our best. As far as teacher duties for census and voter enrolment are concerned, these are assigned on orders of the Centre. We don’t have any choice. We try our best to keep our mathematics, science, and English teachers away.”As far as the issue of DA for the period between 2016 and 2021 is concerned, the matter is pending with the Finance Department.The online attendance system for students is facing certain problems; however, this is expected, as the total strength of students is about 27 lakh, and it will take some time to stabilise, the minister says.Bains adds, “Punjab has the best teacher-student ratio compared to other states. We are continuing regular recruitment drives even now.”A senior education department functionary, requesting anonymity, agrees that there are schools in border and remote areas of Bet and Machhiwara that have just one teacher.Some schools do not even have one teacher and are being managed temporarily by staff from adjoining schools. The issue is being addressed. The state is also facing a severe shortage of school clerks. With no alternative, even this work is being handled by teachers.

Simply Punjab: 50 teacher unions on different paths fail to make impact on government

Punjab is strewn with images of protesting teachers braving water cannons, bearing lathis, and staging dharnas. Some are perched on water tanks

Sanjeev Bariana

Tribune News Service

Simply Punjab: 50 teacher unions on different paths fail to make impact on government

Punjab is strewn with images of protesting teachers braving water cannons, bearing lathis, and staging dharnas. Some are perched on water tanks

Sanjeev Bariana

Tribune News Service

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