United Teachers Federation intensifies stir over closure of schools

​Vijayawada: United Teachers Federation (UTF) intensified the agitation against the State government’s move of closing upper primary schools and apathy in resolving problems of teachers. Hundreds of teachers from across the State took out a rally from Old Government Hospital to Alankar Centre, here on Thursday.

They staged a three-hour long protest at Dharna Chowk.Addressing the gathering, MLC V Balasubramanyam came down heavily on government accusing that every sector was being privatised, including education.

The government is trying to reduce the number of schools as well as teachers, and this move is a threat to the aim of right to education act. Apart this, the government is degrading the standards of universities by cutting posts of teaching faculty. As many as 470 teaching posts were cut,” he remarked.

Balasubramanyam said the Human Resource Ministry was keen to introduce ‘Rationalisation System’ in school education within a week. They have prepared ground to shut UP schools, citing low attendance as a reason.

The government also diverted Rs 4,000 crore from non-planned budget earmarked to teachers’ needs, to other departments,” he alleged. He warned the State government to withdraw the decision of shutdown schools, as the teachers would not tolerate the move.

He appealed teachers to raise voice against the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), which would be a threat to the pension security of 1.4 lakh teachers and pensioners. “We will not stop the agitation till the government scraps the scheme,” Balasubramanyam stated and demanded immediate filling up of aided posts.