Odisha Teachers' Agitation: Mass Leave Forces Closure of 54,000 Schools, Hits 40 Lakh Students

Teachers in Odisha have been demanding the abolition of the contractual appointment system and the reimplementation of the old pension scheme.

Agitating Odisha teachers launch mass leave, leaving 54k schools closed (Representational Image)

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The government teachers imbroglio in Odisha seems to show no signs of subsiding as the ceasework by government school teachers in the state entered its sixth day on Wednesday. Around 1.3 lakh school teachers in Odisha have taken mass leave, closing down schools almost across the state. Notably, Odisha teachers have been agitating demanding the abolition of the contractual appointment system and the reimplementation of the old pension scheme. Following the state-wise teachers’ agitation, around 40 lakh students in state-run schools in Odisha have reportedly been affected and put out of their education institutions. 

Notably, Odisha teachers under the banner of ‘United Primary Teachers Federation’ launched an indefinite agitation last Friday against the state government, demanding the fulfillment of their demands. The teachers have been demanding the abolition of the contractual appointment system, hike in grade pay and restoration of the old pension scheme. 

Since the Odisha government is yet to announce any move on the matter, the aggrieved teachers have further launched mass leave across the state and also staged protests before the offices of block education officers (BEOs), Brahmananda Maharana, an agitating teacher was reported as saying in the light of the matter. The primary education and functioning of around 56,000 schools across the state has been affected due to the teachers’ agitation. 

Owing to the mass leave, several schools were shut while some operated with just one or two teachers. "Instead of looking into our demands, the government has constituted a sub-committee. When an inter-ministerial panel has already been constituted, what is the need of the sub-committee?,” a teacher leader was reported as asking by news agency PTI. He further alleged that the sub-committee was formed only to delay the process. 

In the meanwhile, the opposition parties in Odisha, BJP and Congress have criticized the state government’s failure in addressing the concerns of the teachers. Odisha BJP spokesperson Anil Biswal said that even after five days, the state government has is yet to address the grievances of the teachers, and the state government’s apathy has led to a virtual collapse of the education system in the state. 

"When the government can spend Rs 500 crore on the chopper ride of a secretary, why are they unable to pay proper salary to the teachers,?” the BJP leader was reported as asking. State Congress president Sarat Pattanayak on the other hand has termed the situation as an ‘emergency’ in the education system of Odisha, with the state government not paying any heed to the grievances of the teachers. Meanwhile, BJD MLA Arabinda Dhali has said that the state government will certainly look into the genuine demands of the teachers. 

(With inputs from PTI)