Hundreds of Hindi teachers were entitled to promotion to the mentor grade and they had just like their GP counterparts, followed all procedures for the nomination exercise. It was expected that they would receive their legitimate share of the nominations as it has always been the case in all promotion exercises effected in the primary sector so far.

To our great and utter surprise after the nomination exercise, we have learnt that no Hindi and neither any Asian languages (AL) teacher has been promoted to the new grade. What has been shocking and unbelievable is that Mr Tengur himself expressed satisfaction at the completion of the exercise and it is only after an organized group in the primary sector protested openly against the omission of AL teachers that he came forward to say that Asian language teachers had been penalized.

It would perhaps not be exaggerated to say that no representation has been made for the nomination of AL teachers to the grade and it is most probably for this reason that nobody among them has been promoted. We wonder how and why the Government Hindi Teachers Union (GHTU) or even the Government Teachers Union (GTU) have failed to assume their responsibilities in this connection especially when the authorities have allowed AL teachers to follow all procedures for the filling of the posts. It should be pointed out that AL teachers were called for the written exams and according to our sources of information they were also convened for interviews by the Public Service Commission (PSC).

Green circular

We have read the statement of Mr Tengur to the effect that some AL teachers are more qualified than their GP colleagues but we want to know why they have been left behind. Is it not because Mr Tengur and some other people have failed to assume their responsibilities as trade-unionists? Some time back Mr Tengur also informed teachers that the government would be requested to increase the number of posts of Mentors but we see that the number has remained unchanged. Hindi teachers have not also seen any circular letter making mention of this point in schools. Does it mean that Mr Tengur has just forgotten to make representation for the exercise?

The fact remains that there is today no provision in the budget to allow government to proceed with fresh nominations of teachers to the same grade. This means that no one will be promoted to the grade until government takes a decision next year. Mr Tengur has let down Hindi teachers once again as it was the case some time ago when he surprisingly changed his opinion overnight on the issue of the recognition of Asian languages at the CPE level accepting that pupils studying same languages could not be granted additional treatment as initially announced by government.

Some time ago Asian language teachers have taken cognizance of a good number of promises or proposals made supposedly to take corrective measures so far as this matter is concerned but now the matter seems to have died out. We hear nothing about the hunger strike and other forms of pressure mentioned two months earlier. The surprising matter is that a circular has been sent to schools putting the blame on ex-leaders of the GTU and some other people who have nothing to do with AL teachers and it has also been noted that the same circular bears the heading of the GHTU.

We will not make mention of the regular green circular sent to schools and individually to teachers whose evident aim is just to vilify, denigrate and speak ill of some people. Teachers in general in schools are disgusted and feel ashamed about it and it is widely known who has taken the reprehensible and disgraceful habit of hiding behind such filthy papers.

Teachers resent the fact that government had all the time taken AL teachers on board for promotion to any immediate grade above the teacher/senior teacher grade and it is the first time that this principle has been disregarded. Instead of wasting time and resources at the Supreme Court with issues with which GHTU members are not directly concerned Mr Tengur and other unions need to take this matter more seriously in order to seek redress for the humiliation suffered by all AL teachers in the country.

Les Anges Gardiens