Himachal: Teachers issue notice to education dept, demand broadbands and SIM cards

If broadband and SIM cards are not provided in schools within the stipulated period, primary teachers will stop online work across the state.

Himachal Pradesh Primary Teachers’ Association (PTF) has issued a notice to the education department and warned of stopping online work. PTF has given 15 days’ time to the department for this. If broadband and SIM cards are not provided in schools within the stipulated period, primary teachers will stop online work across the state.

PTF President Jagdish Sharma said that tablets are out of order in most schools. There is no broadband facility in schools. SIM cards should be provided to teachers to use the internet. If this is not done, primary teachers will stop online work across the state. He said that a notice has been issued to the department for this.

He said, primary teachers will not bow down to dictatorial attitude. If the government calls for talks, they are ready for talks. PTF has also held a dharna on November 26 after the notice. No teacher blocked anyone’s way, video recording of this is available. Then the department has lodged an FIR against the teachers who were protesting peacefully.

Primary teachers across the state have been on indefinite strike for a week demanding reorganization of Directorate of Education and some other demands. On 26th April, they staged a dharna at Chaura Maidan in Shimla despite the warning of the Education Department.

After this, the department suspended 10 teachers. Now a list of all the teachers involved in the dharna is being prepared and one day’s salary will be deducted from them. Disciplinary action is being taken against the teachers who targeted the government and officials during the dharna.