Minutes of CSE Meeting with Teacher Unions held on 25th May 2021

File No.ESE02-30021/12/2021-A&I -CSE MINUTES OF THE MEETING
HELD BY THE HON’BLE MINISTER FOR EDUCATION, GoAP WITH PRINCIPAL OFFICE BEARERS OF ALL RECOGNIZED TEACHERS ASSOCIATION TO DISCUSS CERTAIN ISSUES/DEMANDS OF TEACHERS IN THE STATE.
Date: 25.05.2021 Venue: O/o.SPD, SS, Time: 04.00 PM Vijayawada.

 Minutes of CSE Meeting with Teacher Unions held on 25th May 2021

1. The Hon’ble Minister for Education, Government of Andhra Pradesh convened a meeting through webex with Senior Ofcers of School Education Department and Principal Ofce Bearers of all Recognized Teachers Associations to discuss their issues/demands and elicit suggestions on resolving certain problems pertaining to the Teachers. The list of participants i.e., Senior Ofcers and Principal Ofce Bearers of all Recognized Teachers Associations have attended the meeting are shown in the Annexure.
2. 2. The Director of School Education, A.P welcomed the Hon’ble Minister for Education, Principal Secretary (School Education), Senior Ofcers and Principal Ofce Bearers of all Recognized Teachers Association for the scheduled meeting and requested all the participants to convey deepest condolences to the ofcers, teachers, clerks, feld level functionaries of School Education Department died due to COVID. Further, he informed that, the Government stands together with a deep sense of loss at the sad demise of its dearest employees during this dreadful pandemic. Further, he informed that, the Department has issued necessary instructions to the RJDSEs, DEOs and concerned ofcials to process, sanction and forward the pension proposals and other terminal benefts pertaining to the teaching and non-teaching staf deceased due to COVID within no time after the death of the deceased to provide relief at least to some extent, among the families of deceased ones. Further, he informed that, in case of contract and outsourcing staf, the orders issued by government in G.O.Ms.No.119, Finance (HR.I-Plg. & Policy) Department, Dated:01-08-2018 (Rs.15000/- towards funeral charges) & G.O.Ms.No.25, Finance (HR.I-Plg. & Policy) Department, Dated:18-02-2019 (sanction of Ex-gratia of Rs.5.00 lakhs for accidental deaths and Rs.2.00 lakhs for natural death) holds good. Further, recently the Government have issued orders vide G.O.Rt.No.236, Health, Medical & Family Welfare (B2) Department, Dated:16-05-2021 for sanction of an amount of Rs.15000/-towards funeral charges for the death of every COVID patient for the year 2021-22.
3. 3. The Principal Secretary to Government, School Education Department has informed that, the Hon’ble Chief Minister is giving lot of importance and priority to the School Education Department and reviewing frequently on progress of several issues. Therefore, all senior ofcers, teaching & non-teaching community and other concerned ofcials has to be in better coordination and cooperation to deliver the services to the students in a beneftting mannder under the guidance of Hon’ble Minister for Education, the department.
4. 4. Further, the Director of School Education has requested the Principal Ofce Bearers to tell their issues/demands without repeating the same issues/demands raised by the other associations for further proceedings of the meeting. Further, the Principal Ofce Bearers of all Recognized Teachers Associations viz., AP UTF, STU A.P, APTF (1938), APTF (257), APHMA, APUS, APPTA, PRTU (102), PRTU (197) and FAPTO have represented the following issues/demands.

A) VACCINATION TO ALL TEACHERS TREATING AS FRONTLINE WORKERS (FLWs):

The Principal Ofce Bearers of several recognized teachers associations have requested to take immediate necessary action to get vaccinated to all the teachers working under School Education Department duly treating them as Frontline Workers (FLWs) as they are discharging duties on various activities related to the fght against the COVID and creating awareness to the public as per the orders of the Government and District Collectors concerned from time to time.

COMMENTS: 

• The Director of School Education, A.P informed that, proposal was already submitted to the Government vide Lr.Rc.No.151/A&I/2020, Dated:13-5- 2021 with a request to take up the matter with the Health, Medical and Family Welfare Department (HM&FW Dept) for issuing necessary instructions to the District Collectors, DMHOs concerned to get vaccinated to all teaching staf working under School Education Department in the matter.
• Further, the Hon’ble Minister for Education has informed that, in recent discussion with the Hon’ble Minister for Education, GoI, New Delhi it was appraised that, the teachers shall be treated as Frontline Workers and included in the list of Frontline Workers (FLWs) as their role in COVID awareness is unmatchable. Further, he informed that, the Department is in continuous touch and coordination with the Health, Medical and Family Welfare Department (HM&FW Dept.) and necessary instructions will be issued to the District Collectors concerned to take immediate action for vaccination to all teachers. (Action: Govt.)

B) TREATING COVID 19 MANDATORY (14 DAYS) PERIOD AS SPL.CL:

The Principal Ofce Bearers of several recognized teachers associations have requested to treat the entire period of mandatory quarantine/treatment (14 days) as Special Casual leave with pay as other States like Tamilnadu issued orders to treat the mandatory/quarantine period as Special Casual Leave to all Government Employees concerned.

COMMENTS: 

• The Director of School Education, A.P has informed that, the proposal was already submitted to the Government vide Lr.Rc.No.151/A&I/2020, Dated:15-4-2021 with a request to treat the mandatory quarantine/treatment period (14 days) as certifed by the appropriate Medical authorities as Special Casual Leave for the Government Teachers who himself/herself afected with COVID positive (or) if his/her family members are afected with COVID positive as Teachers/Staf wouldn’t have adequate Earned Leave or Half Pay Leave because they are vacation department.
• Further, the Hon’ble Minister for Education, A.P has informed that, as the matter largely relates to all the Government employees for all departments, the General Administration (Services) Department has already circulated the fle and it is under active consideration of the Government. 

(Action: Govt.)

C) EXGRATIA TO THE TEACHERS DIED DUE TO COVID: 

The Principal Office Bearers of several recognized teachers associations have requested that, an amount of Rs.50 lakhs ex-gratia should be declared to the families of the deceased died due to COVID.

COMMENTS: 

The Hon’ble Minister for Education, A.P has informed that, the Government Employees in various cadres in several departments have died due to COVID. Further, declaring ex-gratia to the employees died due to COVID will be discussed with the Hon’ble Minister for Finance and the same was appraised to the Hon’ble Chief Minister of A.P.
(Action: Govt.)

D) NADU-NEDU PROGRAMME (LIMIT THE ROLE OF HEADMASTER): 

The Principal Ofce Bearers have requested the Hon’ble Minister for Education, A.P and the Principal Secretary to Government, School Education Department to limit the role of the headmasters for supervision only and to remove the role of Headmaster concerned from financial and technical activities for Phase-II of NADU-NEDU Programme.

COMMENTS:

•  The Principal Secretary to Government, School Education Department has informed that, the Headmasters played an important role for success of Phase-I, Nadu-Nedu programme and active involvement of all stake holders. Further, the NADU-NEDU Programme became success because it was not given to the contractors. Further, after taking into consideration the experiences, difficulties in phase-I only, the Government have issued detailed guidelines for implementation of Manabadi Nadu-Nedu Phase-II vide G.O.Ms.No.27, SE (Prog.II) Dept., Dt-30.03.2021 and the same shall be followed by the respective officers in all aspects.
• Since, the headmaster is the principal stakeholder in strengthening the school infrastructure and he/she is the Convener of the Parents Committee, the government policy is to build up school infra through PCS instead of contractors, the question of restricting the role of the headmaster in Nadu-Nedu does not arise. However he informed that he has understood the problems and difculties in using the app and in uploading the data in real time and action is being taken to make the apps more user friendly.
• Further, the Hon’ble Minister for Education has informed that, the several States are appreciating the initiative taken by our Government i.e, Nadu-Nedu Programme to bring radical change in the infrastructure of the Government Schools. Further, Phase-I of Nadu-Nedu was successfully completed because of the cooperation and commitment of teachers. Further, for Phase-II of Nadu-Nedu Programme, the Government have issued detailed guidelines for implementation of Manabadi Nadu-Nedu Phase-II vide G.O.Ms.No.27, SE (Prog.II) Dept., Dt 30.03.2021 and the same shall be followed by all concerned officers. (Action: State Project Director, Samagra Shiksha)

E) EARNED LEAVE ENCASHMENT OF HEADMASTERS IN NADU-NEDU: 

The Principal Office Bearers of several recognized teachers association have requested for EL encashment to the Headmasters of the schools who rendered their services in the Nadu-Nedu Programme during the COVID-19 Pandemic lockdown period (phase-I).

COMMENTS:

The Director of School Education, A.P has informed that, 15 days special leave in shape of Earned leave will be sanctioned to the Headmasters and staf who rendered their services in the Nadu-Nedu Programme during the COVID-19 Pandemic period (Phase-I). Orders will be issued within a week time. (Action: Joint Director, Infra & Joint Director, Services)

F) RE-APPORTIONMENT OF TEACHERS, 2021 (POSITION IDs): 

The Principal Office Bearers of the several recognized teachers associations have represented that, in re-apportionment of teachers (teachers transfers, 2021), several teachers are not allotted position IDs to draw their salaries and requested the authorities to solve the issue at the earliest.

COMMENTS: 

• The Director of School Education, A.P has informed that, the Department vide Lr.Rc.No.13029/11/2021-Estt.3, Dated:-10.05.2021 has addressed letter to the Director, Treasuries and Accounts Dept., and CEO, APCFSS with a request to take immediate necessary action to solve the issue and allot position IDs to the teachers who are joined in the posts on reapportionment and allow them to draw salaries in NHRMS until they acquire position IDs in the matter. (Action: Joint Director(Services))

G) MOBILE APPLICATIONS: 

The Principal Office Bearers have requested to take immediate necessary steps on several difculties (i.e., server down, no signal or less signal areas in far away places) that are being faced by the Headmasters with regard to different mobile applications (i.e., IMMS, Students Attendance Monitoring Application and AEBAS) using by the Department. Further, they informed that, they are forced to capture more no.of photos with regard toilets as in high schools there are more no.of toilets available and requested the authorities to capture twice or thrice in a week.

COMMENTS:

• The Director of School Education, A.P has informed that, the Students Attendance Monitoring Application is being used to capture the attendance of the students. Further, keeping in view of the issues raised from the field level, multiple logins given to the schools to capture the attendance of all classes to reduce the valuable time of the Headmasters.
• Further, the Director, Mid Day Meal & School Sanitation has informed that, the IMMS (Integrated Monitoring for Mid Day Meals & School Sanitation) application is being used to capture the meals taken by the students and toilet maintenance, feedback etc., Further, the server capacity was increased in the State Data Centre (SDC) in the month of April, 2021. At present, there are no server issues with regard to IMMS application.
• Further, the Principal Secretary to Government, School Education Department has informed that, the mobile applications i.e., IMMS, Students Attendances etc., have been introduced to reduce the burden of the Headmaster concerned and make the things easier. Further, uploading of photos in the applications taking time due to connectivity issues but the problem is not with the applications. Further, informed that, the department will ensure that before reopening of schools, this issue will be sorted out in the matter.
• Further, the Hon’ble Minister for Education, A.P has informed that, a detailed workshop will be conducted soon on mobile applications to discuss all issues related to applications with the selected Headmasters, teachers etc., with a view to reduce the burden on the Headmasters.(Action: Director, Mid Day Meal & School Sanitation & Deputy Director, Planning)

H) PROPOSAL OF CBSE AFFILIATION TO GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS:

 The Principal Ofce Bearers of recognized teachers associations have stated that, they heard lot of news about CBSE afliation to all Government Schools in the State of Andhra Pradesh. Further, if the Government decided to follow the CBSE pattern followed then, syllabus, subjects related to our culture, heritage etc.. are to be discussed with the association for suggestions and inputs in this regard.

COMMENTS: 

• The Hon’ble Minister for Education, A.P has informed that, the Council of Ministers have agreed to enter Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) for affiliation of all Government Schools in the State of Andhra Pradesh in a phased manner.
• Further, informed that, as per the existing guidelines of CBSE the State government can continue with the existing textbooks as CBSE doesn’t prescribe any particular set of textbooks. However, the Director, SCERT will conduct workshops with teachers, teachers association and other concerned ofcials for redesigning the textbooks and come up with appropriate supplementary learning modules for the children and teachers hand books for the teachers. (Action: Joint Director, Ele.Edu)

I) RE-OPENING OF SCHOOLS & CONDUCT OF SSC PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS, 2021: 

The Principal Office Bearers of several recognized teachers association have represented that, they have interacted with the students of Class X, parents etc.. and collected opinions with regard to SSC Public Examinations, 2021. Further, almost everyone has requested to postpone or cancel the SSC Public Examinations scheduled from 07.06.2021 to 16.06.2021 keeping in view of the rapid increasing in the COVID positive cases and other fungal diseases in the State of Andhra Pradesh.
Further, the Principal Ofce Bearers have requested to not to open the schools from scheduled date i.e., 01.06.2021, as there is a rapid increasing in the COVID positive cases, other fungal diseases in the State of Andhra Pradesh and more no.of teachers are afected with COVID Positive and died due to COVID. 

COMMENTS: 

The Hon’ble Minister for Education has informed that, the suggestions of the teachers, teachers associations, etc., have been taken into consideration while taking a decision in this regard.
(Action: Government & Director of Government Examinations)

J) NEWLY RECRUITED TEACHERS (DSC-2018) NOT GETTING SALARIES: 

The Principal Ofce Bearers, AP UTF have stated that, the newly recruited teachers (DSC-2018) are not getting their salaries due to non-generation of Treasury IDs and CFMS IDs and requested to take immediate necessary action.

COMMENTS: 

The Director of School Education, A.P has informed that, a letter will be addressed to the Director, Treasuries and Accounts Department & CEO, APCFSS to issue necessary instructions to the DD Treasuries and STOs for necessary action in this regard. (Action: JD(Ser)/JD(APMS))

K) MONTHLY PROMOTIONS: 

The Principal Office Bearers have requested the Director of School Education to take up the monthly promotions as it was done in earlier.

COMMENTS:

The Director of School Education has informed that, most of the teachers during promotions are willing to work in urban areas mainly in Category I or II areas which efect instruction in the rural area/backward areas in Category IV & III. Further, to cater the need of instruction in rural areas of Category-IV and III, promotions may be issued to the teachers duly placing a condition to work in the area at least at Category-III. Accordingly proposals are under consideration to take up promotions to teachers duly placing them in category – III & IV. (Action: Joint Director,Services)

L) INTER-DISTRICT TRANSFERS:

The Principal Office Bearers have informed that, there is no intimation and progress relating to inter-district transfers and requested to take necessary action.

COMMENTS: 

The Director of School Education, A.P has informed that, the Government vide Memo.No:1225245/Services.II/A.2/2020, Dt:11.12.2020 have issued orders to consider inter-district transfers on Mutual grounds, Spouse grounds requests only and requested to furnish the inter-district transfer proposals in accordance with the 5(2)(c) of Presidential order on spouse grounds and 5(2)(d) on Mutual grounds requests.
Further, he informed that, the Inter District transfer scheduled is not released due to general transfers of teachers/Headmasters and MCC due to elections. Now the schedule for conduct of Inter District transfers is prepared and instructions have been issued to APCFSS to develop and place necessary software on CSE website for applying applications by the willing Head Masters/ Teachers through Online for Inter District Transfer. Immediately on completion of online process, Inter District Teacher (IDT) schedule will be released in this regard. (Action: Joint Director, APMS)

M) ISSUE INCHARGE/FAC ORDERS FOR THE POSTS OF MANDAL EDUCATIONAL OFFICER AND DY.EOS WITH THE SENIOR HEADMASTERS: 

The Principal Office Bearers have informed that, most of the Headmasters are retiring without awarding promotion due to various court cases pending before the Hon’ble High Court of A.P and requested to issue Incharge/FAC orders for the posts of Mandal Educational Ofcer and Dy.EOs with the senior Headmasters concerned.

COMMENTS:

 The Director of School Education, A.P has informed that, as per the orders Dt:-25.01.2018 of the Hon’ble High Court of A.P in Contempt Case (CC) No.1400/2003 and 244/2017, personal appearance were called to the Prl.Secy & Director, School Education for not maintaining the status-quo orders granted in W.P.No.23267, 23274 of 2017 in the context of the notification in G.S.R.No.637(E), Dt:-23-06-2017 i.e., Organization of Local Cadres.
Further, it is informed that, the Government have raised their voice several times in the Hon’ble Court that, there is a dire need to fll up the MEOs & Dy.EO vacancies. (Action: Joint Director, Services) Download the Minutes of the Meeting Copy
N) PROMOTIONS TO THE ELIGIBLE HEADMASTERS AND MEOS TO THE POSTS OF SR.LECTURER/LECTURER IN JR.COLLEGES/DIETS: 

The Principal Ofce Bearers have requested the Director of School Education to issue promotions to the eligible Headmasters and MEOs to the posts of Sr.Lecturer/Lecturer in Jr.Colleges/DIETs.

COMMENTS: 

The Director of School Education informed that, as per the orders Dt:-25.01.2018 of the Hon’ble High Court of A.P in Contempt Case (CC) No.1400/2003 and 244/2017 that, personal appearance were called for to the Prl.Secy & Commissioner, School Education for not maintaining the status-quo orders granted in W.P.No.23267, 23274 of 2017. In the context of the notification in G.S.R.No.637(E), Dt:-23-06-2017 i.e., Organization of Local Cadres. Further, there are no service rules are been in existence which are adjudicated in the various courts of law.
However, keeping in view of the academics of students and strengthening of DIETs, the Department has issued orders for filling up of vacancies in the Teacher Educational Institutions by way of deputation from the eligible Head Masters (High Schools) and School Assistants for the post of Sr.Lecturer/Lecturer. Accordingly, the said posts are flled by way of deputation alone. (Action: Joint Director, Services)

O) RECRUITMENT OF TEACHERS: 

The Principal Ofce Bearers of several recognized teachers association have requested to take immediate necessary action for flling up of teacher vacancies by issuing DSC Notifcation at the earliest.

COMMENTS: 

The Hon’ble Minister for Education has informed that, the proposal of issuing of DSC Notifcation for flling up of teacher vacancies is under active consideration of the Government. (Action: Joint Director, TET)

P) The Principal Office Bearers of all Recognized Teachers’ Association have requested the Hon’ble Minister for Education, A.P to issue instructions to the authorities to conduct summer classes to the PETs who are not having B.P.Ed qualification to get promotions. Further, raised that some of the students have not received Jagananna Ammavodi Amount due to technical issues even though they are fully eligible. Implementation of old pension to the DSC 2003 candidates as per the orders of the Apex Court, Government of India. Further, requested to resolve the technical issues in uploading the CCE/FA1/FA2 marks and sanction of Primary School Headmaster post.

COMMENTS: The Director of School Education informed that, the requests are appraised to the Government. (Action: Joint Director, APMS/Services & Deputy Director, Planning)

5. Finally, the Hon’ble Minister for Education has once again stressed upon the importance and priority given by the Hon’ble Chief Minister to the School Education Department. He directed the concerned for taking all steps for successful implementation of all schemes, programmes etc., for the students through constant and continuous monitoring for improving the standards of the Government Schools and learning outcome process.