The Maharashtra Permanently Unaided School Principals Action Committee (MPUSPAC) has threatened to commit suicide outside the Nagpur Assembly session while it is in progress after the education department failed to fulfil its demands and give approval to around 750 primary and secondary schools as a result of which salaries of teachers in these schools has been held back.
Prashant Redij, Mumbai president of the MPUSPAC, said that the education director’s office has shown lethargy in sanctioning approval for the 750 schools even though they had applied for sanction since the start of the academic year. “It was delayed for no apparent reason. Though initially the salaries of the teachers were remitted it stopped due to lack of approval. As the schools had collected minimum fees after being selected for grants, they did not have funds to pay salaries and now it is three months since the teachers in the 750 schools have got their salaries,” said Mr Redij.
Mr Redij said that members of the MPUSPAC had reached their tether and would have no option but to take drastic measures.
“Some of these schools have been struggling for survival for the past many years but have managed to stay afloat through their own means or through other philanthropic initiatives,” said Mr Redij.
Meanwhile, an official from the director of education’s office at Pune said that the approval for the 750 schools was under process and their letters would be released by the end of November after which the salaries of the teachers would be started.
