Mangaluru: Paid less than a maid for teaching special kids

Mangaluru: He spends the entire day with special children, who need more than the usual attention, treating them more like a loving parent to draw the best out of them. But for all his dedication, he receives a mere Rs 12,000 a month as  salary, less than even a maid working in a special school recognised under the 1982 grant- in -aid code (for the mentally retarded).

Hundreds of teachers of special schools in the state  are similarly dismally paid thanks to the state government’s failure to upgrade their status. “The state government has recognised only eight special schools for the mentally retarded under the 1982 grant- in -aid code , while  over a 100 similar schools  are recognised under the Child Centres Scheme. The teachers, who come under the grant- in -aid code of 1982 get salary equal to that of a teacher of a government- aided school, which is around Rs 23,000. A maid there gets about Rs 14,000, while a teacher in schools recognised under the Child Centers Scheme are paid a paltry Rs 12,000,” says Mr Vasanth Kumar Shetty, general secretary of the  Karnataka State Association for Special Educators and Supportive Staff.

“When teachers and employees of all special schools do the same work, why are there two separate rules and two separate kinds of pay?” he asks, demanding uniform rules and pay in all  special schools.

 Pointing out that  a teacher in a special school works more than  regular teachers, he says the present situation is a huge injustice to them.