Members of the Chandigarh Teachers' Association (CTA) took to the streets on Thursday, staging a strong protest against the education department's recent directive. The educators gathered at the Sector 25 rally ground to voice their opposition to the decision of holding remedial classes in offline mode during the upcoming winter vacations.
Why Teachers Are Opposing the Offline Classes
The association leaders, including legal adviser Arvind Rana and general secretary Ajay Sharma, argued that the move was announced with very short notice, making it highly impractical. They highlighted that winter attendance in schools typically plummets to between 30% and 40%, and holding compulsory classes during the holidays would see this number drop even further.
Their primary concern revolves around student welfare. "Winter vacations are fundamentally meant to protect young children from the harsh and cold weather conditions," the CTA stated. They posed a critical question to the authorities: "Who will take responsibility if a child falls ill due to exposure during these classes?" The protestors emphasized the potential for both logistical chaos and health-related issues arising from the plan.
Vacation Plans and a Proposed Alternative
Adding to the complexity, teachers pointed out that numerous students, as well as teaching and non-teaching staff, have already finalized their vacation travel and family plans. This would make the implementation of the offline classes exceptionally difficult and unfair.
Instead of completely scrapping the academic support, the CTA presented a viable and modern alternative. They suggested that the remedial classes be shifted to an online mode. This, they believe, would address the learning gap without compromising on student safety or disrupting family time.
Warnings and a Conditional Offer
The teacher's body warned that if their genuine concerns continue to be ignored by the education department, they might be forced to escalate the matter and approach Raj Bhavan for intervention.
However, demonstrating their willingness to cooperate for the benefit of students, the CTA expressed readiness to conduct remedial sessions under practical conditions. They proposed holding one-hour daily classes from January 8 to January 31, a period after the core vacation time. Their stand received solid backing from representatives of the Govt Teachers' Union and the UT Cadre Educational Employees' Union, showing a united front from the teaching community in Chandigarh.
