On the occasion of Teachers' Day today, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, ''Teachers are our gurus and the 'guru-sishya parampara' is a gift of India to the world. Taking to her Twitter handle, Banerjee said, ''Today is Teachers' Day. Teachers are our gurus. The guru-sishya parampara is a gift of India to the world."
In recognition of the contribution of teachers in schools, colleges and universities, our Govt felicitates outstanding teachers with "Siksha Ratna Samman" on Teachers' Day. ''The Trinamool Congress Government, right since it came to power in Bengal in 2011, has been working tirelessly for the betterment of teachers. The WB Chief Minister has always ensured that the Government does its best for teachers, '' a party statement said.
Among other things, the Government introduced the Siksha Ratna Award for successful teachers in 2011 and Banerjee herself gives away the awards every year. ''Over the seven years till May 2018, 50,426 primary teachers and 27,572 upper primary, secondary and higher secondary teachers have been recruited and post-recruitment training has been given to 7,56,912 teachers, '' the statement said adding, ''Siksha Ratna started in 2011, right after coming to power, to honour successful teachers from the state.'' From 2017, all teachers permanent (full-time), temporary, contractual full-time and para-teachers brought under the Swasthya Sathi group health insurance scheme,'' it stated.
''From January 2017, retirement age of college and university teachers has been increased from 60 to 62,'' the statement informed and said, ''fully paid cumulative leave periods are for all teachers in school, college and university a 180 days' maternity leave, 45 days' paternity-cum-child care leave, 42 days' (6 weeks) leave in case of miscarriage or abortion, 730 days of childcare leave for female teachers for entire period of service and 135 days' child adoption leave for female teachers.'' Status of a teacher has been accorded to librarians, deputy librarians and assistant librarians in all government colleges.
Paid study leaves have been initiated for temporary and contractual government college teachers for studying for PhD; 300 days' paid study leave and other career assistance for graduate laboratory assistants and laboratory assistants.
''Approval of introduction of UGC Regulations 2016 wherein professors can act as guides for MPhil and PhD candidates,'' the statement said adding, ''under West Bengal University and Colleges (Administration and Regulation) Act, 2017, a host of regulations has been effected like composition of management committees of government colleges, provident fund for teaching and non-teaching staff paid by State Government, better transfer facilities for government universities, increasing the quality of education E-learning space has been created in every State-funded higher education institution where free Wi-Fi/internet facility has been made available for both teachers and students during working hours, it stated.
