Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today directed newly appointed School Education Minister O P Soni

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today directed newly appointed School Education Minister O P Soni to examine various pending demands of school teachers for their early resolution, an official release said.       

Assuring a delegation of teachers of his government's commitment to redress their demands, the chief minister asked Soni to have detailed discussions with representatives of various teachers' associations on issues concerning them, including the transfer policy, rationalization policy, release of salaries on time besides regularization of services of employees in various societies, the release said.   

Meeting

He also asked School Education Secretary Krishan Kumar to take up with the Centre the issue of exemption of school teachers from non-education duties, and delegate such duties to non-teaching staff so that the former could concentrate on education. The directives were issued by the chief minister while presiding over a meeting of 'Sanjha Adhyapak Morcha Punjab', the official statement said.     

Singh assured of his personal intervention with regard to the various pending issues concerning the teachers belonging to various categories. He promised to hold another meeting with the morcha representatives in June, after their preliminary meeting with the school education minister.     

Amarinder Singh

The chief minister, however, expressed concern over the poor pass percentage in Class 10 state board results and urged the teachers to work hard with dedication and commitment to raise the bar. The government on its part was committed to improving the standards of education in the state by ensuring full strength of teachers, besides upgrading the infrastructure in the schools, he added.