Jaipur: A day after govt employees demanded his resignation, School Education Minister Madan Dilawar Tuesday said issues raised by teachers would be resolved through dialogue, adding that there was no impasse between the education department and teachers but only a communication gap.“I invited a delegation of the Akhil Rajasthan Rajya Karmachari Sanyukt Mahasangh for talks and we had positive talks with them. The issues raised by them will be addressed. We are already discussing some of these and will work towards resolving the same. Teachers are a respectable part of the education department and society,” Dilawar said.The minister said the quality of education in Rajasthan has improved because of teachers’ efforts.“Rajasthan, which was at the 14th position nationally in terms of quality of education, is now at the fourth position. This has been possible because of the teachers’ efforts. RBSE results show that students of govt schools have outperformed those in private schools. Govt schools are continuously working for the betterment of students,” Dilawar said.The protests, led by the Akhil Rajasthan Rajya Karmachari Sanyukt Mahasangh, were triggered by Dilawar’s alleged remarks about women teachers and what the association described as the department’s failure to address pending issues.After meeting the minister, representatives of the employees’ association claimed that Dilawar assured them that a committee would be constituted to address teachers’ concerns.Vipin Prakash Sharma, state general secretary of the association, said a positive consensus was reached on 20 issues, including transfers of Grade III teachers, matters related to the Departmental Promotion Committee process for Grade III teachers, transfer-related grievances of special categories and pay protection.The association claimed that the minister “expressed regret if any of his remarks hurt the sentiments of teachers”.“A request was made to the education minister to constitute a committee comprising teacher organisations to address our issues, a proposal to which he consented,” said Sharma.
