Gujarat government reverses 8-hour shift order for primary teachers

On Monday, i.e. September 6, 2021, various protesting primary teachers from different parts of the state had met Gujarat education department officials.

Gujarat School Reopening: The Gujarat government on September 8 reversed its previous order mandating eight hours of working for government primary school teachers. Earlier, the state government was adamant about making the teachers work for eight hours. The government also shared an official notification regarding eight hour working of government primary school teachers against which a majority of the teachers and their federations had expressed anger. According to TOI, Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama on Wednesday said, "We are cancelling the earlier notification mandating the primary teachers to work for eight hours."

On Monday, i.e. September 6, 2021, various protesting primary teachers from different parts of the state had met Gujarat education department officials. The teachers demanded that if the state government wanted the primary teachers to work for eight hours as per the provision in the RTE, they must also consider the provision under the RTE which states that teachers cannot be assigned other duties apart from teaching.

The teachers also made a point stating they take care of children during recess hours as well. However, the recess time is not counted in the work shift of 8 hours. The teachers report an hour early as compared to students at the school and leave the school an hour later after students. TOI reported that the Gujarat Teachers' Federation said that if primary teachers were considered at par with other government employees, including college teachers, it must consider that all of them get compulsory holiday on Saturdays, which the primary teachers are not granted.

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