By Sandeep Mishra
Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Jan 10: A controversy over allowances has hit the state-level master training programme that is being conducted at five different high schools across the city.
As many as 10 teachers each from the 30 districts of the state gathered in the capital for the training programme titled Samarthya – 3 that began January 8 and will end January 12.
Of the 10, two teachers each are being trained in the five subjects of life science, mathematics, physical science, Oriya and English.
This is the third edition of the training programme, which is being conducted at Saheed Nagar Boys High School, Unit 8 Boys High School, Unit 9 Boys High School and Girls High School and Capital Boys High School, with the first two being held in 2012 and 2013.
However, this time, the teachers who have come from all over the state, are not being given allowances by the government. In contrast, in the previous two editions, the teachers have been provided Rs 140 as dearness allowances (DA) and Rs 350 for boarding allowances, according to sources.
“We reached here January 7 and learnt that this time we have to survive on our own as the department will not provide us any allowance. This is shocking,” said a teacher here on the request of anonymity.
Another teacher being trained at Capital High School here said that the authorities have provided them accommodation in the schools itself which have no proper power connection. The teachers have also been asked to sleep on floor, he said.
“First the authorities told us that they will not provide any allowance. However, later they said they will provide `Rs 140 as DA to teachers who opt to take accommodation outside and `Rs 40 to teachers who remain in the schools,” he said.
State Council Educational Research and Training (SCERT) deputy director Bijaya Patra clarified that there are no guidelines to provide allowance to the teachers.
“The teachers here have been provided food and accommodation on government’s funds. There are no norms to provide any money to them,” said Patra.
