It’s slavery for women teachers of pvt schools

​Hyderabad: The State government has been providing financial assistance to the prospective brides from the poorer sections of society, but the private sector is not that kind to women teachers.

More than 80,000 such teachers working in private schools in the state are being forced to decide between their jobs, marriage and having children.

According to sources, the ongoing campaign against the irregularities in the private schools by the Private School Teachers Forum (PSTF) has been unearthing shocking details under which the teachers have been forced to work.

The School Education Department (SED) is in the dock over not implementing the regulations on the payment of salaries, appointment and removal and other service conditions under GO No.1.

Added to this, teachers’ associations are claiming that of a total number of 2 lakh private teachers in the state, nearly 65 per cent are women. However, after much persuasion, only two corporate private schools had started implementing granting leave for marriage, maternity leave and payment of salaries through banks.

But, the total number of the schools run by the two corporates is only about 140 in twin cities. Remaining schools across the twin cities and elsewhere in the state are issuing pink slips to the teachers who apply for leave for marriage or maternity.

Speaking to The Hans India, the PSTF president Sheik Shabbir Ali said following the formation of teachers’ committees at mandal and divisional level, untold hardships of the female teachers hitherto were being brought to light.

A lady teacher who applied leave for marriage during the beginning of this summer was denied leave. She was told that they could not grant leave at the end of the academic year and she should choose job or marriage. Adding to these, the newly married lady teachers in the private schools have been denied maternity leave.

“They will have to quit their job and come back the next session. If there are vacancies they may get back their jobs or they will have to search elsewhere,” Ali said.

Though these issues have been taken to the notice of the higher-ups there has been no official reaction. Following this, apart from continuing the statewide campaign, the forum has finalised to knock the doors of the High Court to direct the state government to implement the GO No. 1 relating to regulation of services of private school teachers, in letter and spirit.