Over 150 primary teachers gheroaed Archdiocese Board of Education (ABE) office in Colaba on Thursday to protest against the non-implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations and non-payment of arrears. The teachers were supported by members of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) Forum that later met ABE officials and presented teachers’ demand.
According to PTA Forum chairperson Arundhati Chavan, nearly 5,000 teachers teaching in 150 primary schools under the ABE had been receiving salaries as per the Fourth Pay Commission recommendations and numerous requests to the ABE had fallen on deaf ears.
“Primary teachers in schools under the ABE are being forced to work for `15,000 to `20,000, despite the fact that they are eligible for much higher salaries. In fact, they had approached the ABE on numerous occasions asking for the implementation of the new pay scales, but nothing came of it,” said Ms Chavan.
Speaking about the paltry salaries, one of the primary school teachers said, “The schools had been quick to increase the fees as soon as the government announced the Fifth and Sixth Pay Commission recommendations on the pretext of paying our salaries. However, we have not received any of surplus amounts being collected by the schools as salary. We want our salaries to be in line with the recommendations and also want our arrears to be paid as soon as possible. If that is not done we may be forced to approach the government.”
After gheraoing the ABE office, the teachers and members of the PTA staged a dharna outside the office forcing ABE officials to meet them. “Father Gregory Lobo has agreed to hold talks with teachers’ representatives and the PTA on Friday and resolve the issue,” said Ms Chavan.
“A meeting has been fixed for Thursday and the teachers will be given a proper hearing,” said an ABE official.