Retirement age of teachers will not be raised: edu minister

Hardwar , July 7 (UNI) Uttaranchal Education Minister Narendra Singh Bhandari has ruled out the raising of retirement age of teachers from 60 to 62.

Talking to reporters after inaugurating a school here last evening, the Minister said raising the retirement age of the teachers would aggravate the problem of unemployment. He said most of the teachers sought transfers on health grounds.

''What is the justification of increasing retirement age of the physically unfit teachers and forcing them to work for two more years?'', he said, adding that in his opinion teachers should be pensioned off at the age of 58.

The associations of the primary schools, the secondary schools and the degree colleges teachers in the state are demanding that the retirement age of teachers be raised.

The minister further said that 90 per cent of the secondary schools in the state were being run by officiating principals.

''Arrangements are being made to appoint regular principals in all the secondary schools of the state by the end of this month,'' he added.

The minister also informed that on the recommendation of the MLAs, one intermediate college and three high schools would be set up in their assembly segments.

''To meet the requirement of additional teachers for these new schools, 7,000 teachers in LT grade will soon be appointed,'' he said.

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