State scraps decision to re-verify eligibility of unaided schools for grant, teachers call off strike

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According to the association, the reports submitted by the committees set up to re-inspect schools shortlisted for grants are against the interests of these schools; hence they had demanded that the government should discard these reports and start issuing grants on the basis of the previous report.

Around 1,343 schools were shortlisted as eligible to receive grants till the month of November last year. The new government then formed new committees to re-inspect the shortlisted schools and reports on the same were submitted to the education department, Based on these reports the government then shortlisted the names of 162 schools wherein 486 classes having 1,292 employees which included 810 teaching and 482 non-teaching staff would become eligible for government salaries.

Prashant Redij, Mumbai regional secretary of MSPUSA, said, “It has been six years since the government did away with the word ‘permanently’ making the unaided schools eligible to receive grants from the government. Since 2009 the government has been dragging its feet on the issue. It was only last year that the previous government started the process and sent out inspection committees that shortlisted 1,343 schools for grants. However in November, the new government formed new committees to re-inspect the schools and in February only 162 school were found eligible for grants. We had clearly told them that we will end the strike only if we get it in writing. However they kept it delaying by giving us assurances. We have called off the strike immediately after the deputy secretary of education issued circular to this effect.” said Redij.

“We have held 111 agitations since 2009 but we are yet to get a hearing. Our agitation aimed at making the government discard the reports of the recent committees and revert to the previous report and start issuing grants to the shorlisted schools,” said Redij.

The association claims that it has over 35,000 schools affiliated to it across the state, and that the boycott may have resulted delay in declaring the SSC results.

dipti.singh@expressindia.com