Demonstrations in front of DEEO offices in Assam on February 20

PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS' WOES

* 36,000 educational institutions remained closed for last three days

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Even as the 'Asom Rajyik Prathamik Shikshak Sanmilani' (ARPSS) concluded their three-day non-cooperation movement on Saturday, the organization has, however, threatened to stage demonstrations in front of the offices of District Elementary Education Officer (DEEO) in the State on February 20 if the government doesn't meet their demands at the earliest.

Mentionably, as many as 36,000 primary schools across the State remained closed for the last three days following the agitation of ARPSS over its charter of demands since February 11.

The three main demands of the organization are the creation of headmasters' posts in the lower primary schools; roll back of the government's decision to slash Rs 8,700 monthly from the salary of each graduate teachers employed in the lower primary schools; and payment of Dearness Allowance (DA) for the contractual teachers working in such schools.

Talking to The Sentinel, ARPSS secretary general Ratul Chandra Goswami said, "It is strange that the government is silent with respect to our rightful demands. Why has the government failed to respect their assurances given to us earlier?

"This is despite the fact that thousands of lower primary school teachers have been protesting in front of their respective schools across the State. We staged protest programmes even during the three days of the Assembly session that concluded today."

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