Primary teachers of the state gathered in Gandhinagar to protest against the Gujarat government’s recent notification of making 8 hours compulsory for school teachers.
They said that the notification makes it mandatory for primary school teachers to work for eight hours a day under RTE act. Teachers said If Govt Wants Them To Work For 8 Hrs As Per The RTE, Teachers Cannot Be Assigned Other Duties.
A team of Prathmik Shaikshik Mahasangh met officials of the education department to make a representation to reconsider the decision. There are around 1,80,000 teachers across the state that will be affected by the decision.
A member who raised the concern in Gandhinagar said that it was in 2012 that this rule was brought in place, but was pulled back. “If government wants us to work for 8 hours as per the provision in RTE, they should also consider the provision under RTE that states that teachers cannot be assigned other duties apart from teaching,”
Teachers said the recess time is not counted in the duty time of 8 hours despite the fact that teachers have to take care of children. Also, teachers are called one hour prior to students arriving at school and have to sit one hour after students leave school.