Thanjavur: Teachers working in Government and aided colleges in Thanjavur district went on mass casual leave (CL) today demanding fulfillment of their long-pending demands that includes implementation of teacher-friendly pay-scales and filling up vacancies in accordance with the UGC regulations, 2000 and revival of pension scheme for university teachers beyond 2004.

Barring a few who are on the verge of retirement, all the teachers, affiliated to Joint Action Council of College Teachers, abstained from work in response to the call for a day’s mass CL, All India Federation of University Teachers’ Organisation (AIFUCTO) vice-president Prof T Arivudainambi said.

Though the Subramanian Committee had submitted its report on National Education Policy (NEP) on April 30, the Centre has not uploaded it to its website. Only 43 pages out of the total 234 pages of the report have been displayed, seeking response from the public by September 30, he said.

Prof. Arivudainambi alleged that the government has deliberately concealed some controversial portion of the report aimed at abolishing the public-funded education system and encouraging privatisation.

Drastic curtailment of the budget, and FDI in higher education are clear indications that the government is out to handing over higher education to the corporate world and, thereby, depriving the poor and disadvantaged sections from educational opportunities, Prof Arivudainambi said.