Guwahati, Feb. 8: The Assam Higher Secondary Teachers and Employees’ Union has decided to boycott this year’s higher secondary examinations, which are just a week away.

The higher secondary exams are scheduled to be held on February 16.

Union general secretary Ashis Ranjan Dey said they have been forced to take this step after being “disappointed” by Dispur again. He claimed the government has not fulfilled the promises it made last year. The union claimed that the government had given its pledge to fulfil their demands in writing.

The union’s charter of demands includes senior grade status for teachers within a notified time period. Besides, it has demanded bonus arrears and has sought that vacant posts be filled up and made permanent.

Both the general secretary and union president Ganesh Goswami have called upon the government to set up the sixth pay commission.

Goswami also alleged that provident fund dues have not been cleared, even claiming that salary arrears have not been paid to the teachers.

“This time we are adamant on our demands and will not budge even an inch,” a union statement said, alleging that Dispur has been meting out step-motherly treatment to the teachers.

Union members launched their agitation today at the Railway Higher Secondary School. One of them said Gauhati High Court had directed the state government to meet their demands last year but it has not been able to do so.