Date:21/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/21/stories/2008092151600300.htm

Kerala

Education reforms opposed

Staff Reporter

They are impractical, says Aryadan; teachers stage dharna

Opposed to policies: Members of the Joint Council of Teachers staging a dharna in front of the DDE office in Malappuram on Saturday.

MALAPPURAM: Aryadan Mohammed, MLA, has accused the State government of implementing “impractical reforms” in the education sector.

He was inaugurating a dharna organised by the Joint Council of Teachers owing allegiance to the United Democratic Front (UDF) against the educational policies of the government, in front of the Deputy Director of Education (DDE)’s office here on Saturday.

Mr. Mohammed called upon the teachers to intensify their agitation.

He criticised the State government for finding fault with the Centre, which had implemented salary revisions in an exemplary way. Abdulla Vavoor, district chairman of the Joint Council, presided over the function.

In a statement issued later, Kerala School Teachers Union (KSTU) State general secretary A.K. Sainuddin said that teachers would resist attempts to suppress their agitations for rights.

He criticised the police action against the teachers who staged a dharna in front of the Education Deputy Director’s office at Palakkad.

The Joint Council of Teachers took out a march in Malappuram town in protest against the lathicharge on teachers in Palakkad.