Teachers from colleges and universities of Punjab had announced a rally to proceed on mass casual leave on September 5, teachers day while making an agitation for the implementation of UGC recommendation on wages and benefits.

Teachers belonging to the varsities of other colleges have already received at least 50 to 70% of the revised pay scales according to the UGC norms. Dr Jagwant Singh, general secretary of the Punjab Federation of University and College Teachers' Organisation ( PFUCTO) said that teachers in Punjab had not received a single penny.

He also added that there are over 4,000 positions for teachers in government colleges, universities and other aided colleges that were vacant and hence the quality of education has been suffering.

The funding from the government is also not proper and had been causing delays in paying the salaries to the teachers. The pension gratuity scheme for the teachers is still a distant dream.

He also added that the government is yet to implement the UGC recommendation on enhancement of retirement age, amend Security of Service act 1974 to provide better Security of Service to teachers working on unaided posts.

(AW- Anil)