There was no sign of reconciliation between the government and agitating PU lecturers as the former remained firm on implementing its alternative plan to begin evaluation of II PU examination answer scripts from Saturday.
The PUlecturers continued their strike for the 13th straight day onFriday. Minister of State for Primary and Secondary Education Kimmane Ratnakar had told DH that his department had received the consent of around 7,500 lecturers to start the evaluation.
In addition, department officials said that retired lecturers would be roped in to assist in the evaluation work. In an interaction with mediapersons on Thursday, Ratnakar had said that no further negotiations would be held with the protesting lecturers. Accordingly, no talks were held on Friday as well.
A highly placed official from the department said that the process of "compiling and confirming" the services of retired PU lecturers is on. Orders were being issued to unaided college lecturers too.
"The government will not sit idle; it has been extremely patient all this while. Any negotiations will entail varied responsibilities. We cannot keep on waiting and let the results get delayed," said the official.
A H Ningegowda, general secretary, State PU Lecturers Association said: "The numbers of protesting PU lecturers swelled on Friday as many more lecturers joined us."
Countering the government's claims of an 'alternative arrangement', Ningegowda said that around 3,300 lecturers hired during the 2009 recruitment and another 1,376 lecturers hired in 2013 received orders on Thursday to join evaluation duties, "These two batches of lecturers joined the protest on Friday instead," claimed Ningegowda.
He also noted that as many as 3,000 lecturers from various unaided colleges had joined the protest. "With support for the protest increasing, I do not know how the government can begin the evaluation," he countered.
The PUlecturers continued their strike for the 13th straight day onFriday. Minister of State for Primary and Secondary Education Kimmane Ratnakar had told DH that his department had received the consent of around 7,500 lecturers to start the evaluation.
In addition, department officials said that retired lecturers would be roped in to assist in the evaluation work. In an interaction with mediapersons on Thursday, Ratnakar had said that no further negotiations would be held with the protesting lecturers. Accordingly, no talks were held on Friday as well.
A highly placed official from the department said that the process of "compiling and confirming" the services of retired PU lecturers is on. Orders were being issued to unaided college lecturers too.
"The government will not sit idle; it has been extremely patient all this while. Any negotiations will entail varied responsibilities. We cannot keep on waiting and let the results get delayed," said the official.
A H Ningegowda, general secretary, State PU Lecturers Association said: "The numbers of protesting PU lecturers swelled on Friday as many more lecturers joined us."
Countering the government's claims of an 'alternative arrangement', Ningegowda said that around 3,300 lecturers hired during the 2009 recruitment and another 1,376 lecturers hired in 2013 received orders on Thursday to join evaluation duties, "These two batches of lecturers joined the protest on Friday instead," claimed Ningegowda.
He also noted that as many as 3,000 lecturers from various unaided colleges had joined the protest. "With support for the protest increasing, I do not know how the government can begin the evaluation," he countered.