Govt Schools remain closed as teachers' strike continues

Hyderabad, Oct 30 (UNI) Government Schools in Andhra Pradesh continued to remain closed as the state-wide strike, called by the Joint Action Committee of Teachers' Organisations (JACTO), entered the ninth day today.

JACTO leaders said here they would intensify the agitation in support of their demands, despite the Andhra Pradesh High Court's suggestion to call off the strike and join duties before Friday in view of the future of the children.

JACTO leader and United Teachers Front General Secretary Narayana told UNI that there was no intimation from the Government for fresh talks with the leaders. Talks between the Government representatives and JACTO leaders had failed to arrive at a solution on October 27, he added.

Mr Narayana said the JACTO leaders were ready to join the talks, if the Government invited them. As part of the agitation, the striking teachers gheraoed the Ministers in Ranga Reddy district, where about 1000 teachers were arrested to be released later, he added.

The striking teachers would organise rallies at all the district headquarters in the State today.

The teachers wore black-badges to show their resentment against the State Government's ''lethargic'' attitude towards their demands, including unified service rules and promotions to teachers.

Yesterday, the Andhra Pradesh High Court had suggested the teachers on strike to call off their stir and join their duties before Friday. The Court suggested to the JACTO leaders, while hearing the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) and posted the case to Friday.

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