+2 evaluation begins amid non-govt teachers' boycott

Bhubaneswar: The evaluation of Plus-II examination papers begun today even as the non-government college teachers held their ground to boycott the process over their demands which include, among others, full grant-in-aid and withdrawal of block grant.

As per the schedule, evaluation of answer scripts will be held in 49 evaluation zones of the state for which CHSE has engaged about 15,000 teachers.

The first phase of evaluation will be conducted from April 4 to 13 and the second phase from April 16 to 25.

Though the government has warned the agitating teachers of stern action if they go ahead with the boycott, it has made alternative arrangements for the evaluation of papers.

The Council of Higher Secondary Education (CHSE) has decided to engage retired teachers in the process.

“No alternate arrangements can be made without teachers. If they stay away from the evaluation, we will request the retired teachers to do the evaluation work,” CHSE chairman Basudev Chhatoi had said.

Higher Education minister Pradeep Panigrahi also had urged the striking lecturers to join the duty keeping the students’ greater interest in mind.

“We request them to assist in evaluation work and not try to put the government in trouble. The government will take appropriate action if they create any obstacle,” Panigrahi had said.

The defiant teachers, however, have refused to bow down to the government’s threat of action.