Teachers demand Saturday off too

Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, August 26, 2007
Citing increasing work pressure as the reason, teachers of 44 government schools across the state have demanded an extra off on Saturdays in addition to Sundays. The teachers have compared themselves with other government employees, who enjoy a break from work on the weekends, to strengthen their case.
At its executive council meeting last week, the West Bengal Government School Teachers’ Association decided to present their wish list to school education minister Partha De this week.
“The workload has increased manifold. School hours have been extended by 45 minutes from the current academic session. Teachers have to conduct eight unit tests, besides the annual examination, which means piles of answer scripts for correction. Class work and homework copies are added responsibilities. Working from 11am to 1.30pm even on Saturdays is the extra load that teachers must be relieved of,” said Dipak Das, general secretary of the association.
According to Das, the West Bengal Service Rules apply for all state government employees, including teachers. “So, if other government employees get off on Saturdays why shouldn’t teachers enjoy the same? Earlier, other government employees worked half-day on Saturdays apart from the second and fourth, which were holidays. But over the past few years, they have been enjoying a break from work every weekend. If the same rules apply to both, why should schoolteachers work for two-and-a-half hours every Saturday?” he said.
Das said teachers of government schools are entitled to a total leave of 151 days every academic year. These include 65 days of listed holidays and vacations, 20 medical and 14 casual leaves, and 52 Sundays. Partha Chatterjee, general secretary of the State Government Employees’ Federation said other government employees could enjoy a maximum of 173 days, including 15 listed holidays, 54 casual, medical and earned leaves and 104 Saturdays and Sundays.
“Earlier, we had 87 days of listed holidays and vacations every year. Now, it has been brought down to 65. We have accepted the cut. But when there is not much difference in work pressure between schools and other government offices, why this discrimination when it comes to off days?” Das said. He also demanded scrapping of the rule of deducting a casual leave if a teacher is absent on a Saturday.
When pointed out that government-aided schools also remained open on Saturdays and teachers there shared a similar workload too, Das said: “Our demand is justified. They (teachers of government-aided schools) can follow us if they want to.”
The association feels including Saturday on the leave list would not affect the quality of teaching. “Almost all English-medium schools in the country hold classes five days a week. Do you think they do this at the cost of their quality of education?” said a teacher.
Das said students, too, were under pressure and classes five days a week would help them beat the stress. It would also give them time to study at home, he contended.
mou.chakraborty@hindustantimes.com