Early Times Newspaper Jammu
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In times of Covid-19 pandemic Foundation World School shows door to eight teachers
No takers for GoI’s directions not to shunt employees during Corona Virus


Jehangir Rashid

Early Times Report

SRINAGAR, June 4: The Government of India’s directions to the employers that no employee should be terminated during the time of Corona Virus seems to have very few takers especially in the union territory of Jammu & Kashmir, more so in the valley.
Early Times has learnt from sources that at least eight teachers of ‘Foundation World School’ (Humhama and Mamath) were terminated by the school authorities without any notice being served upon them. These teachers received a rude shock when they were informed by the school management that they are no more on the rolls.
“The teachers who were undergoing the probation period at the school were informed that they have unceremoniously shown the door by the authorities. Despite the fact that these teachers discharged their duties to the best possible level still then they were shown the door by the school management,” said the sources.
Sources said that these teachers were actively involved in the imparting of education during the COVID-19 since they were involved with the video classes organized for the students by the school. They said that these teachers were under paid and when they raised their voice against the same they were shown the door.
“In total contravention of the labour laws the teachers were being paid peanuts. This is despite the fact that the school charges Rs. 6,500 as tuition fee only to Nursery class and it goes up till 8th class. Most of the teachers who are on permanent rolls are paid Rs. 7,000 per month with a handful being Rs. 12,000 on monthly basis,” said sources.
Sources said that both the permanent as well as probationary teachers worked more than usual hours since pandemic broke out by making video lectures and worksheets for Google classroom. At the end of the month the probationary teachers were paid just Rs. 3,000 with the authorities making the excuse of non-availability of funds as reason for the same.
“As the teachers asked for their right they were expelled by the authorities saying that they are on probation and their performance was not good. How were they using their videos in the classroom since March then if the performance of the probationary teachers was not up to the mark? Just because these teachers wanted at least 70 percent of their salary, they were shunted,” said sources.
When contacted Assistant Labour Commissioner Budgam, Hafsa told Early Times that the aggrieved teachers contacted her through telephone adding that she asked them (teachers) to file a written complaint in this regard. She said that since the teachers were on probation they could have been terminated and same would have been written in the contract.
“How can I believe if a person lodges a complaint on phone? I told the teachers to come to me with the written complaint along with the documentary proof. They did not turn up. Still then I talked to the HR section of the school which told me that the teachers were on probation and they were terminated since their performance was not satisfactory,” said Hafsa. She said that the school would not take such an extreme step adding that anything is possible.