Ranchi, May 2: The termination of services of contract teachers, allegedly to avoid paying their salaries for summer vacations, has affected classes at DAV Jawahar Vidya Mandir, Shayamali, in the capital.

Sources said the school has “saved” Rs 3 lakh by terminating the services of more than 30 contract teachers on April 30. Dean Students’ Welfare S.N. Thakur, conceded “the school management has taken the step to adjust its expenditure. By terminating the services of contract teachers, we will save Rs 3 lakh this year. The amount will help in meeting the expenditures incurred by the school to impart free education to the wards of Mecon employees”. Thakur, however, said the teachers who have been “asked to leave” would be re-appointed. “Those, whose services have been terminated, may be re-appointed. The decision will be taken by the school management on the basis of their performance,” he said. As a result of the move, the leisure periods of staff teachers have been reduced. The administrative staff has also been directed to take classes. Class monitors have been asked to help the teachers in maintaining discipline in the classes. A senior teacher at the school said the move has resulted in a low teacher-student ratio, with the children outnumbering the tutors. The school has 6,000 students and 100 classrooms. Of the teachers whose contracts were terminated, five were from senior secondary, eight from secondary and the rest taught in the primary section. They have been working continuously for the last 11 months in the school, but were asked to leave just three days before the summer vacations, the sources said.

They said the crisis will continue till May 3. “The school will close for summer vacations tomorrow. After the school re-opens, the management will appoint some contract teachers. Teachers whose services have been terminated may be given fresh contracts,” they said. According to some parents, this is the first time the school management has taken such a step. “In the last 30 years, I have never seen the school management behave like this. The step is unethical,” they said.

The sources said the school authorities wanted to deprive the teachers from a permanent job. “These teachers were very hard working. The management took the step to prevent them from asking for a permanent post,” they said.

“If the teachers become permanent, the management will have to pay them more. Now they get only their basic salary. But after become permanent they will be entitled to other allowances,” they said. While principal D.R. Singh was not available, vice-principal Shyamji Choubey refused comment.