In Ahmedabad, the Diwan Ballubhai Primary School has been fined ₹10,000 by the City District Education Officer (DEO) Rohit Chaudhari. This decision comes after the school management failed to adequately respond to a show-cause notice regarding a recent protest by teachers. The protest occurred on August 11, when teachers from both the English and Gujarati medium sections staged a dharna on the school campus. They demanded a salary increase, claiming that the current pay structure was unfair and discriminatory.
The strike disrupted classes for students in Classes 1 to 8. Instead of regular lessons, students were asked to watch educational programmes on television. This led to a lot of confusion and frustration among parents. Many students were left sitting in classrooms while some teachers went on strike without notifying the school management or DEO.
Following the protest, the DEO issued a notice to the school, demanding an explanation for the disruption. The management was given three days to respond. The teachers were also penalised, facing a deduction of one day’s salary for their participation in the strike.
According to reports, around 100 teaching and non-teaching staff were involved in the protest at the Diwan Ballubhai High School campuses located in Maninagar and Paldi. They alleged that the school trust had not granted salary increases fairly. Some teachers received significant raises, while others got minimal or no increase at all. This inconsistency led to feelings of discrimination among the staff, prompting them to act.
During the strike, students who arrived by bicycle were sent home, while those who used school transport had to remain on the premises. This situation led to angry parents who expressed their dissatisfaction with how the school handled the strike.
DEO Chaudhary pointed out that the teachers’ strike had a negative impact on students, who were deprived of their lessons. The DEO highlighted that the Right to Education (RTE) Act mandates that students should not suffer due to such protests. He stated, “Teachers quit their teaching work for their own interests, and students had to suffer. The management also failed to resolve the issue effectively.”
The school management has been told to submit a report on the actions taken regarding this incident. The DEO ordered that the fine be paid within three days and that the respective school principals inform the DEO office on the implementation of this order.
The management of Diwan Ballubhai School had previously mentioned that they introduced a performance-based salary increment process this year. However, this change was not well received by all staff members. Previously, teachers received a flat increment, which has now been replaced by a system based on performance evaluations. This shift has caused dissatisfaction among the teaching staff, who feel that the new system may not be fair.
The school has four primary branches with around 250 staff members, including teachers and support staff. The DEO’s actions aim to ensure that students’ education is not disrupted and that teachers follow the proper protocols when raising concerns about their salaries.
As the issue unfolds, it remains crucial for the school management to address the teachers’ concerns effectively and ensure a conducive learning environment for students. The DEO’s intervention highlights the importance of maintaining educational standards and safeguarding students’ rights to uninterrupted education.