Bhubaneswar: The agitating secondary school teachers have decided to help the Board of Secondary Education (BSE), Odisha conduct the annual Matriculation examinations smoothly from Tuesday.
This was stated by Ranjan Kumar Das, secretary of Odisha Secondary School Teachers’ Association (OSSTA), after a ‘fruitful’ meeting with government officials on the demands of the teachers earlier on the day.
Speaking to media persons, Das said the representatives of OSSTA discussed their demands and the impact of their agitation on the Matriculation examinations with the officials. With the meeting ending on a satisfying note, they have decided to cooperate with the BSE in conducting the examinations, he added.
However, the teachers would continue their dharna in Bhubaneswar till the government issues a notification on fulfilling their demands. If the government goes back on its promise, they would hold agitations in all districts of the state, Das warned.
Hundreds of secondary school teachers under the banner of OSSTA have been staging protest at Lower PMG in Bhubaneswar for the last 13 days in support of their 21-point charter of demands.
The teachers’ demands included grants to eligible schools, salary system for 226 and 399 school teachers, removal of anomalies in the grade pay of Rs 2800, extension of retirement age of teachers to 62 years and pension for retired teachers of unaided schools.
It may be noted that more than 5.51 lakh students are slated to appear in the High School Certificate or Matriculation examination starting from Tuesday. The examination will be held in 3,047 centres across the state.
As many as 21 police stations have been made nodal centres in remote areas. A total of 5,51,611 students have got themselves registered for the annual examination, sources said.
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