Bhubaneswar, 1st Nov 2025: Due to the government’s continued implementation of what the association calls an anti-education policy, the condition of primary education in the state has been deteriorating. In some schools, there are no teachers at all, while in others, a single teacher is managing all six classes. Academic activities have taken a backseat as teachers are being compelled by the government to perform non-teaching duties.
The Teachers’ Association has demanded that teachers should not be assigned any work other than teaching. The Association has strongly opposed the government’s move to close schools under the closure and merger policy, arguing that citing low student attendance as a reason for shutting down schools is unjustified. Furthermore, despite a large number of teacher posts remaining vacant, the government has not yet filled them.
On September 22, the primary teachers had demanded cancellation of schematic appointments in primary education, regularization of all such teachers, counting of the six-year contractual period of Assistant and Junior Teachers as part of their regular service with the grant of six notional increments, revision of cadres, payment of salaries at par with central scales, and restoration of the old pension scheme.
The Secretary of the School and Mass Education Department had earlier held discussions with representatives of the teachers and had sought one month’s time to address their demands. However, even after the expiry of one month, not a single demand has been fulfilled by the government.
Although the Chief Minister had announced that schematic appointments in primary education would be abolished and regular appointments would be made — and that the schematic teachers would be recognized as regular teachers with their six-year contractual period counted toward regular service — no official notification has yet been issued.
This has caused deep dissatisfaction among the primary teachers. Hence, in the executive meeting of the Primary Teachers’ Association held on Sunday at the Shramik Bhavan in Bhubaneswar, members demanded that the School and Mass Education Department immediately issue the notification.
The meeting was attended by President Brahmananda Maharana, General Secretary Bibhuti Prasad Sahu, President Krushnachandra Behera, Sudhanshu Mandal, Treasurer Gopal Sen, General Secretary Agadhu Sethi, Santosh Dubey, Damodar Panda, Debakanta Meher, Sarat Sethi, and Saroj Behera, among others. They unanimously urged the government to issue the notification without delay.
They also warned that if the state government fails to meet their demands, the primary teachers will be compelled to resume their agitation.
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