PANAJI, 27 August : Former Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Amit Patkar has demanded that the BJP-led Goa Government address the long-pending grievances of pre-primary teachers, including low salaries, lack of job security, statutory recognition and social security benefits. He also announced a Teachers’ Town Hall on September 6 to provide teaching and non-teaching staff from across Goa a platform to raise their concerns.

 

Patkar raised the issue after a delegation of pre-primary teachers met Congress representatives in Ponda and highlighted problems relating to remuneration and service conditions. Adv. Ajay Prabhugaonkar and former Jawahar Bal Manch Chairman Pelagia Raposo were also present during the interaction.

According to Patkar, more than 3,000 pre-primary educators working in nearly 800 schools across Goa are receiving salaries of only ₹5,000 to ₹10,000 per month.

“It is shameful that teachers who nurture our children during the most important formative years of their lives are being paid ₹5,000 to ₹10,000 a month. The BJP Government cannot speak about quality education and the National Education Policy while simultaneously denying dignity and financial security to the very teachers who provide foundational education,” Patkar said.

He claimed that pre-primary teachers continue to face structural disadvantages as they have not been formally recognised as a cadre under the Goa School Education Rules, 1986, leaving recruitment norms, pay scales and service conditions inadequately codified.

Patkar demanded that the government amend the Goa School Education Rules to formally recognise pre-primary teachers and establish a proper cadre. He also sought Grant-in-Aid for eligible pre-primary sections registered with the Directorate of Education and a uniform minimum salary to prevent what he described as exploitative honorariums.

The Congress leader further demanded proper service conditions and job security, including maternity benefits, medical insurance and tenure protection for long-serving educators. He also sought PF and gratuity benefits for eligible employees, besides ECCE certification and upskilling programmes to ensure teachers are not displaced as qualification requirements evolve.

Teachers’ Town Hall on September 6

Patkar said the grievances of pre-primary teachers were part of wider concerns being raised by teaching and non-teaching employees across Goa over salaries, service conditions, recognition, benefits, job security and working conditions.

“To give a platform to teachers and non-teaching staff to come forward, speak openly and place their genuine grievances before us, I will organise a Teachers’ Town Hall on September 6, immediately after Teachers’ Day,” Patkar announced.

He said the proposed Town Hall would provide teachers and non-teaching employees from different parts of Goa an opportunity to share their experiences, identify common problems and discuss possible solutions.

Patkar maintained that the event would not merely be a political programme but an exercise aimed at listening to those working in the education sector and documenting the challenges they face.

“Teachers are the backbone of our education system. If their voices are not heard, we cannot claim to be serious about the future of our children,” he said.

Patkar appealed to teaching and non-teaching staff across Goa to participate in the Town Hall and raise their genuine concerns so they could be systematically documented and taken up before the appropriate authorities.

“This is not only about one category of teachers. This is about protecting the dignity of everyone who works to educate and shape the future generation of Goa. We will listen to them, stand with them and take their issues to the appropriate forums until justice is delivered,” Patkar said.

He reiterated that the Congress would continue to support pre-primary teachers and other education-sector employees in pursuing their demands.