Hike budgetary allocation for education: UTF

Vijayawada:  The AP United Teachers Federation (APUTF) demanded the State government to hike the budgetary allocation for school education from 16.44 per cent to 30 per cent in the budget for the fiscal years 2016-17.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday,  APUTF State general secretary P Babu Reddy said that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who was aiming to develop State as knowledge hub should focus on according adequate budget and fill the vacant teacher posts to improve standards in school education across the State. He questioned the CM on what basis he would place AP on the top position without providing basic amenities and infrastructure in the primary and secondary schools administered by the government.

“Majority of the schools across the State were not in a situation to provide mid-day meal to the students. The scheme was diluted completely with the delay in payment of bills to the workers. Focus should be laid by the government in sanctioning the bills on time, besides entrusting the duties to NGO’s,” he said.

The APUTF leader also demanded that State government withdraw Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) as it would exploit the interests of the employees appointed after September 1, 2004. “A resolution regarding the cancellation of the CPS should be passed in the Assembly Budget sessions to be held from March 5,” he said. The APUTF State president I Venkateswara Rao said that federation would stage ‘Chalo Vijayawada’ protest on March 9, demanding the State government to consider the long pending demands of the teachers.