Vocational Teachers boycott valuation camp

KOCHI: After boycotting the scheme finalisation of valuation in March-end, the Vocational Teachers Association members boycotted the valuation camp on Monday.  “We boycotted the three-day valuation camp that commenced on Monday to voice our protest against the Education Minister’s proposal to wind up vocational higher secondary education and introduce vocational subjects in higher secondary schools from the coming academic year,” said Murali, a vocational teacher.
 The vocational teachers across the state are boycotting the valuation camp at various centres in Pettah and Manacaud in Thiruvananthapuram, Chengannur, Kollam, Thrissur and Kozhikode.  The aims of both higher secondary and vocational higher secondary are different. The vocational higher secondary is a platform to hone the skills in various technical fields which helps economically and educationally backward students secure jobs, he said.  Education Minister Abdu Rabb has called a meet on Wednesday. ‘’We will decide the future course of valuation only after that,’’ Murali said.
 Meanwhile, the valuation of non-vocational subjects went unhindered at all the camps. “The Vocational Teachers Association members gave the boycott notification and we requested for police protection. All the non-vocational subjects are being evaluated. A few non-vocational teachers who are not part of the boycott are working at the camp,” said Jessy, Regional Assistant Director, VHSE.  When asked about the move to wind up VHSE, she said we have not got any intimation.   The vocational teachers also alleged that the move to incorporate vocational subjects at the higher secondary level is to balance the shortage of nearly 27,000 students in higher secondary schools that may be due to the introduction of 550 new batches across the state.   But higher secondary education authorities   rubbished it.