Translate The Content in Your Local Language

Thursday, 12 September 2013

Termination of physically-challenged teacher draws flak : PANAJI

****************************************************

DRAG demands inquiry into the matter by Chief Secretary

****************************************************

Disability Rights Association of Goa (DRAG) on Wednesday criticised the Goa Directorate of Education for illegally sanctioning the termination of service of a teacher in a government-aided school, who acquired a disability during service.

It demanded an inquiry into the matter by the Chief Secretary. President of DRAG Avelino de Sa told The Hindu on Wednesday that as per Section 47 of the Persons with Disability Act, 1995, no establishment funded by the government could dispense with or reduce in rank any employee who acquired a disability during service provided that if the employee after acquiring the disability was not suitable for the post he was holding he should be shifted to some other post with the same pay scale and service benefits.

He said the Directorate of Education was aware of this section because in March this year there was a similar case against the Directorate of Education with the State Disability Commissioner. Despite that, the Directorate of Education had gone ahead and sanctioned the termination of the teacher who acquired disability during service, claimed DRAG president.

“What is shocking is that the medical board of State-owned Goa Medical College (GMC), Bambolim, has certified the teacher as fit to continue in service on a desk job,” said Mr. de Sa.

‘Illegal decision’

“The decision of the Directorate of Education to sanction termination of the teacher who acquired disability during service is illegal as it is in violation of Section 47 of the Persons with Disability Act, 1995, and the recommendations of the medical board of the GMC,” said DRAG president.

The organisation spearheading the cause of differently-abled persons has also questioned the authority of the medical board of the GMC to certify the teacher as unfit to teach when the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, New Delhi, has identified the post of teacher as suitable for persons with disability.

DRAG has also demanded that the government support primary education in the mother tongue as many children were not able to cope with the switch from Konkani/Marathi to English in Std. V as a result many children became slow learners or learning disabled.

The organisation also demanded that the State government acknowledge the efforts of special teachers by felicitating them with a State award on teachers’ day.

*********************************************************************************

# ‘No one can dispense with an employee who acquired disability during service’
# Goa Medical College has certified the teacher as fit to continue in service on a desk job
**********************************************************************************


Source : The Hindu , 12th September 2013 

No comments:

Post a Comment