Mangaluru: Thousands of guest teachers working in high schools across the state have not received their salaries since the start of the current academic year. In Dakshina Kannada alone, a total of 316 high school teachers provide their services. Department officials said that they received a grant for primary teachers, but not for high school teachers. Meanwhile, those working as guest teachers in primary and higher primary schools received their salaries. Sources added that the funds required to pay salaries until Oct for primary school teachers were deposited. Chitralekha K, state president of the Primary and High School Guest Teachers Association, said that primary school teachers have received their salaries, while their counterparts from high schools have been waiting for their salaries for the past two months of work. “Compared to the previous year, the situation of primary teachers who have received their salaries is better, but high school teachers continue to suffer. We urge the govt to credit the salary at the earliest,” she urged. One of the high school guest teachers, working for the past four years, said the majority of the teachers have their commitments, and the non-payment of the salary has been affecting them. “We work similar hours to permanent teachers. It’s difficult to run our families without salaries, and some are the lone breadwinners in their families. Without money in hand, we are also forced to celebrate festivals in a low-key manner. This has been going on for many years, and we request the state govt to clear our salaries on time and recognise our work,” the teacher said. Block education officers in Dakshina Kannada said that they have received salaries for guest teachers of primary schools. GS Shashidhar, DDPI of Dakshina Kannada, said that he will address the issue with the officials concerned.
