Sikkim youth body demands Govt to extend ad-hoc teachers' appointments

GANGTOK: The Sikkim Progressive Youth Forum (SKYF) has sent a letter to the Education Minister of the state demanding immediate intervention in the matter of hunger strike and dharna staged by the ad-hoc teachers in East Sikkim.

The organization has demanded the Education Department for an extension to the teachers who were teaching earlier in their respective schools until the walk-in interviews and other formalities are completed by SSTRB.

"We hope you will intervene in this matter and fulfill the demands of the teachers thereby ending their protest and hunger strike. This will be a gift from the Govt of Sikkim to all the Ad-hoc teachers of the state who sacrifice the prime age of their lives at a meager salary and no security for the sake of teaching the children of underprivileged Sikkimese," stated the letter.

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This is to bring to your kind attention that Ad-hoc teachers have been staging dharna at the DAC, Sichey from past two days putting forth their demand for a temporary extension till the walk-in interview is completed. Five of them are on indefinite hunger strikes. The health of those on hunger strike is deteriorating rapidly, read the letter.

The SKYF has further stated that the termination of terms of the Ad hoc teachers who were appointed last year have left many students in trouble, especially class 10 and 12 students whose board exam is in November-December this year.

"In such backdrop, a large number of students are bound to study some subjects themselves due to unavailability of the subject teachers. Those studying in schools far away from capital are the worse victims of this. Such students are mostly the students whose parents are economically weak. As most of the Ad-hoc teachers are engaged in rural and remote schools," it added.

The SKYF further said that some teachers whose terms were terminated are still teaching on humanitarian grounds.

Teachers day celebration was held at the DAC by the protesting ad-hoc teachers.

Some students and people around the capital also extended solidarity and support by taking part in the celebration.

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