Teacher unions in Andhra Pradesh demand restoration of Old Pension Scheme, say GPS is unacceptable

The Federation of Andhra Pradesh Teachers’ Organisations NTR district chairman Syed Kasim on August 12 slammed the YSRCP government in Andhra Pradesh for going back on its promise to restore the Old Pension Scheme. ‘Employees taken for a ride’ Addressing the 200-odd teachers who participated in a six-hour protest staged at Dharna Chowk in Vijayawada as part of the State-wide protest call given by the federation, Mr. Kasim said the government employees and teachers in the State were taken for a ride by Chief Minister Y.S. ‘Reforms ruined education sector’ Mr. Kasim, who is also NTR district unit general secretary of the Andhra Pradesh Teachers’ Federation, alleged that the education sector was being ruined in the name of reforms that included merger of primary schools and decision to do away with Telugu as a medium of instruction in the government schools. The APTF leader said the government policies posed a threat to the survival of primary and high schools, and “the ultimate objective is to privatise the education sector.” ‘Teachers harassed’ FAPTO State Executive Committee member and State Teachers’ Union leader Timmanna took exception to what he called “harassment of teachers by Principal Secretary of School Education Praveen Prakash,” while United Teachers’ Federation State secretary Manohar took exception to the “oppression and suppression” of the teachers.