Now High School Teachers Threaten To Go On Mass Leave In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Even as the Odisha government has termed the ongoing strike of primary school teachers as “gross misconduct”, the high school teachers have threatened to go on mass leave in support of their demands from September 26.

Thousands of teachers have decided to join the agitation under the banner of the Odisha Government High School (Secondary) New Pension Scheme Teachers’ Association, if the government fails to fulfil their demands before the deadline.

The Association’s demands include regularistation of jobs of contractual teachers, inclusion of six-year contract period in their service records, increments and pensions scheme for them.

The Association, in a release, stated that though the government has abolished the contractual system in appointment of its employees, the high school teachers appointed between 2004 and 2013 are yet to get the benefit. Besides, the teachers, who have served for several years under contract, are deprived of their experience in their career, it added.

“If the government fails to meet our demands by September 25, teachers of thousands of high schools across the state would take mass leave from next day. We should not be held responsible for disruption in the education of the students of thousands of high schools in the state,” the Association said.

The studies in as many as 4,848 high schools in the state may be affected if the teachers go on agitation.

It may be noted that the around 1.3 lakh primary school teachers are on mass leave since Wednesday, seeking abolition of the contractual appointment system, hike in grade pay and restoration of the old pension scheme.

The teachers have been holding protests in front of district and block education offices as well as in the state capital under the banner of the All Utkal Primary Teachers’ Federation (AUPTF).

Also Read: ‘Gross Misconduct’, Says Odisha Govt; Striking Teachers Asked To Resume Duties