Teachers to strengthen organization, start website (ToI)

Teachers to strengthen organization, start website TNN | Jul 8, 2013, 01.55 AM IST PANAJI: Goa's school teachers are preparing to take on the state government decision to extend school timings by half an hour, which the teachers say is doing more harm than good for students. Ahead of the confrontation, the all Goa secondary school teachers' association is preparing to strengthen its structure. The teachers, at a meeting held last week, have decided to set up a website where teachers will be able to lodge their complaints as well as know of the latest developments affecting them, from changes in leave structure and service rules, to circulars issued to schools. The meeting was called in Panaji to discuss the difficulties faced by teachers and students since what the teachers termed as the illogical decision to up school hours. But teachers also raised issues such as denial by managements to approve child care leave available to female teachers, in violation of norms. Members of the teachers' association felt that setting up a website will go a long way in bringing about awareness among teachers about the rightful facilities available to them and will also give them a platform to share common issues faced with managements and the state government and will help find a solution. Teachers have also decided to raise a fund for the all Goa secondary school teachers' association which can help in planning activities to strengthen the organization in the future. Members of the association are seeking a meeting with chief minister and education minister Manohar Parrikar to present their difficulties since the implementation of a directorate of education circular calling for longer school hours. Teachers said that the association was left out from a meeting with the chief minister where the decision to raise the school hours was taken. The association members said that they would decide their next course of action if the directorate of education does not respond to a memorandum by them within 15 days to provide a logical explanation for the increase in the school hours. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Teachers-to-strengthen-organization-start-website/articleshow/20962560.cms?