Pre-university lecturers in Karnataka have decided, in an act of protest against the government, to boycott the evaluation of second-year PU answer-papers starting Wednesday. The Karnataka State Pre-University College Teachers Association has said their move follows the government's inability to meet their demands. The department of pre-university education had decided to begin evaluation work from March 22 and announce results by the end of April.
Association members expressed their dissatisfaction with the pay disparities and alleged that their demands were not met in the 6th pay commission recommendations. Lecturers began their act of protest during the exams, wearing black ribbons to convey their discontent.
"Despite we are demanding for the pay hike in basic, our demands have not been considered in 6th pay commission recommendations. If we don't protest, the government will not take our demands seriously," said another member of the association. According to them, the PU lecturers were supposed to get a pay hike of Rs 53,100 but as per the 6th pay commission recommendation, they received Rs 43,000.
However, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Tanveer Sait told media confident of amending the situation. "I have already written to the 6th pay commission to consider the PU teachers grievances in the second volume of recommendations they are submitting to the government soon," he said on Tuesday.
"I am convening a meeting with them to discuss the same. Hope they will consider our request and attend evaluation work keeping the interest of students in mind," added Sait. According to data, there are 19,000 eligible evaluators from government colleges and orders have been issued to 24,000 lecturers including aided and private colleges for the current exams
However, the department has decided that if the lecturers fail to attend evaluation, the department will, as per the amendments brought to the Karnataka Education Act, where those who boycott evaluation will have to face imprisonment for 5 years and penalty up to Rs5 lakh!
