Jan. 3: Education minister Bratya Basu today argued in favour of a higher pay scale for primary school teachers, saying they were “responsible for building the basic foundation of the nation”.

“A mistake committed by a doctor might cause the death of a patient. Or for that matter, a bridge might collapse because of lapses on the part of an engineer, causing the deaths of several hundred people. But for the lapses on the part of primary teachers, a whole nation might be ruined,” Basu said while inaugurating a workshop on primary teachers’ training in Burdwan town this morning.

Basu said primary school teachers should appeal to the Centre for higher pay because they “build the basic foundation of the nation”. He said he believed that a teacher had no other social responsibility except spreading education.

The minister refused comment when asked why he advised primary teachers to approach the Centre as their salaries were paid by the state government.

A senior official, however, said: “The education minister perhaps meant that as the Centre had underlined the need for primary education and introduced the right to education act, it was the responsibility of the Union government to look after the financial well-being of primary teachers.”

The minister said primary school teachers should be soundly educated and well-trained.

He said the state government was aware of teachers’ grievances. “You need not approach the government with your demands. We are aware of them. You must only ensure that you do not indulge in politics for personal gains,” Basu said.

The education minister said a panel of 15 retired teachers would be formed to inspect schools and their facilities.

“The attendance of teachers and their performance will be inspected every three months. We will maintain a register for all schools. We will start the system soon,” Basu said at another programme in Bolpur.