Panaji: College lecturers appointed on a lecture-basis contract have set Oct 22 as the deadline for govt to resolve their pending demands and formulate a clear policy for teachers appointed on contract and who have been working for 10-15 years.The educators claim that lecture-basis teachers in general and vocational courses have been given no clarity by the education department about their employment or the demands for better wages.Lecture-basis teachers who have been working for the last 10-15 years said that they are paid Rs 400 per lecture, but while earlier they used to get 104-106 lectures per month, they now get just two lectures per day at Rs 400 per lecture.“So it has affected the monthly take home salary of these teachers. Govt should understand the cost of living. The teachers are saying enough is enough,” said advocate Ajay Prabhugaonkar, who is agitating for the teachers’ rights.Prabhugaonkar has urged Goa govt to introduce a special scheme to accommodate lecture-basis teachers who have been serving in govt higher secondary schools despite holding postgraduate and BEd qualifications.“The CM has failed to give priority and attention to the education department. If govt fails to give these teachers justice by Oct 22, we will start a hunger strike on Oct 23,” said Prabhugaonkar. He said that the teachers have decided not to start the protest during the exams, which are set to commence on Monday.Prabhugaonkar also said govt should provide the same benefits as regular govt employees to PWD contract workers. He said govt should regularise eligible contract workers as per the existing govt notification and ensure they receive the benefits due to them.
