Odisha Govt Warns Protesting Primary School Teachers Over Gross Misconduct'

BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha government on Thursday sent a warning to the protesting primary teachers in the state who have been protesting for fulfillment of their demands. In a letter written to all the district education officers (DEOs) and their subordinating officials, the director of elementary education has mentioned that most of the teachers have not taken any permission from their competent authorities and participated in the strike which is gross misconduct.

The elementary education director stated that there shall be 220 working days in an Academic year and if the same will not be achieved during the normal working months, then it has to be compensated in the later part.

“It has been brought to the notice that teachers of elementary cadre are staging dharna in front of BED offices of the state for fulfilling their three charter demands. It is intimated that most of the teachers have not taken any permission from their competent authorities and participated in the strike. This leads to gross misconduct,” the letter read.

“Further, you must be aware of the fact that there shall be 220 working days in an Academic year. If the same will not be achieved during the normal working months then it has to be compensated in the later part,” the letter added.

The letter stated that a sub-committee under the chairmanship of the elementary education director has been formed by the state government to examine and discuss the demands in presence of the office bearers of the teacher association.

"After threadbare discussion with the office bearers of the teacher’s association, the committee will recommend its decision to the Inter-ministerial Committee for taking final decision on the demands," the letter stated.

"In this connection, you are requested to appraise the matter to the teacher associations at the district and block level to call off their strike and resume in their duties forthwith in the interest of the students who are being deprived of their right to education. This is for information and necessary action,” it added.

Notably, the primary teachers under the banner of the Primary School Teachers’ Association are staging the agitation seeking fulfillment of their demands including job regularisation and pay hikes.

As per reports, the abolition of contractual appointment as has been done in the case of high school teachers is their first demand. Besides, the inclusion of ex-cadre teachers in the elementary cadre, hike of grade pay, formulation of service cadre for Art and PET teachers, filling up of vacancies and old pension system were among the major demands.