Chennai: Despite teachers and government employees’ organisations declaring that they would continue their strike until their demands are met, the school education department has extended the deadline for striking teachers to join duty to Tuesday (today).
Following the order from the school education department that teachers could not continue in their same schools if they don’t return to work on Monday, nearly 10,000 teachers (5%) returned to work, officials claimed. Encouraged by the increase in attendance, the department has extended the deadline to join duty to Tuesday.
“Teachers who wish to return to duty can do so by just informing their appointment authority through a message, WhatsApp or call. If they return to work by Tuesday morning their posts will not be considered as vacant posts,” school education director V.C. Rameswaramurugan said in a circular.
The secondary grade teachers and graduate teachers in government primary and middle schools need to inform the concerned district educational officers. Graduate teachers and post-graduate teachers in government and higher secondary schools have to inform the chief educational officers of their district, the circular said.
“If they don’t return to work by Tuesday, their posts should be considered as vacant posts and need to be filled with temporary teachers,” it directed the chief educational officers.
M.Subramanian, one of the coordinators of Joint Action Council for Tamil Nadu Teacher Organisations and Government Employees Organisations (JACTTO-GEO) said, “Over 2.5 lakh teachers and 2 lakh government employees are participating in the strike. More associations will join the strike from Tuesday. But, the state government is suppressing the fact that government offices were also hit by the strike.”
“Only a small portion of teachers have returned to work. But, hundreds of teachers and government employees were arrested. We are protesting for a just cause and it would continue until our demands are met,” he said.
He said the court has pointed out that the appointment of temporary teachers would lead to further confusion. “We are willing to negotiate with the government over our demands. But, the state government is refusing to hold any talks with the striking associations,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court has adjourned the case to Tuesday after posing questions to both teacher organisations and state government with regard to the strike.
