Chennai: Citing ongoing strike would affect conducting practical examinations and preparation for board exams in government schools, V.C. Rameswaramurugan, director of school education, has instructed all the chief educational officers (CEOs) to issue showcause notice to teachers absent from work.
Stressing nine-point charter of demands including continuation of old pension scheme, the teachers and government employees under the banner of Joint Action Council of Tamil Nadu Teachers Organisations and Government Employees Organisations (Jactto -Geo) resorting to indefinite strike from January 22.
The Madras high court has ordered the striking employees and teachers to return to work by January 25.
“CEOs are directed to issue showcause notice to the school education staff participating in the strike directing them to resume duty immediately failing which disciplinary will be initiated against them under rule 17 (b) of Tamil Nadu Civil Service (Discipline and Appeal) Rules,” the director said in the circular.
He further requested the district education officials to take necessary precautionary and alternative arrangements to maintain the normal functioning of schools/offices during the period of strike.
In a letter to both director of school education and the director of elementary education, school education secretary Pradeep Yadav instructed to hire temporary faculty to run the schools.
“The participation of teachers in the strike has adversely impacted running of government schools, particularly primary and middle schools. Most of the primary schools have only two teachers and participation by both teachers in strike led to closure of schools for the last few days,” he said in the letter.
Stating that the director of elementary education has submitted a report suggesting engagement of qualifying teachers temporarily to tide over the situation, school education secretary said, “The temporary teachers should be appointed by Parent Teachers Associations on a consolidated pay of '7,500 per month.”
He further urged the directors to take necessary action so that temporarily engaged persons open schools from January 28.
“The CEO/DEOs to be directed to file complaint in the nearest police station in case of any obstruction by striking employees,” Pradeep Yadav said.
