Strongly Oppose Government Decision
Chandigarh, Jan 31
The Punjab government has issued yet another controversial order, allegedly sidelining school education. While Class 8 and Class 12 board examinations are scheduled to begin from 17 February, the government, instead of focusing on students’ studies, has assigned computer teachers duties to prepare cards under the Chief Minister Health Insurance Scheme. Computer teachers have strongly opposed this decision and criticised the government’s functioning.
Office-bearers of the Computer Faculty Association Punjab, including State President Pradeep Kumar Maluka, Jaspal (Fatehgarh Sahib), Lakhwinder Singh (Firozpur), Parmveer Singh Pummy, Pawan Sharma (Jalandhar), Harcharan Singh, Jatinder Singh Sodhi, and Sushil Angural, stated that whenever any data entry work arises, Punjab government officials immediately remember computer teachers. However, when it comes to their legitimate demands— for which they have been struggling for over two decades— ministers and officials choose to ignore them.
They said that now, just two weeks before board examinations, computer teachers are being pushed into making health insurance cards, without any concern for the students studying in government schools. The government, they alleged, is unwilling to think about how students will manage without teachers during this crucial period.
Violation of Supreme Court Orders
Computer teachers said that assigning them non-academic duties is a clear violation of the RTE Act as well as the orders of the Hon’ble Supreme Court. They made it clear that they will not join any duty at any cost that harms students’ education and damages the school system. They termed the task as completely political in nature and stated that if they are forced to perform such duties, they will take to the streets in protest and expose across Punjab the government’s attempts to ruin education.
Chief Minister and Education Minister Accused of False Promises
Expressing anger, computer teachers said that when it came to completing the Punjab government’s so-called dream project, computer teachers were immediately summoned, despite the fact that they have been fighting for their rights for the last 20 years. After the Aam Aadmi Party formed the government in 2022, Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains had announced on 15 September 2022 that all demands of computer teachers would be fulfilled by Diwali 2022. A similar announcement was made by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in Jalandhar. However, these promises proved to be false, and the government is not even willing to listen to them now.
The organisation has demanded that all benefits mentioned in the regular orders issued in 2011 be restored and that computer teachers be given full salary and benefits as per the Sixth Pay Commission. Additionally, they demanded financial assistance and government jobs for the dependents of computer teachers who have passed away in recent years.
Leave feedback about this