Odisha Govt's pressure tactics fail to budge agitating teachers

Bhubaneswar: It appears that Odisha government has failed to rein in the agitating teachers despite all sorts of attempts and pressure tactics to dissuade them from boycotting the Plus two answer sheet evaluation process.

From issuing threats of suspension, to lodging FIR and clamping prohibitory orders under section 144 in front of evaluation centres, Odisha government’s endeavours have failed to put a lid on the ongoing agitation of teachers which entered its ninth day today.

The teachers under the aegis of All Odisha School-College Teachers’ and Employees’ United Forum have been continuing with their agitation  demanding issuance of a notification regarding withdrawal of the affidavit clause prescribed in the Grant-in-Aid (GIA) Policy-2017 along with fulfillment of six other demands.

"It's almost nine days and so far 20 percent answer copies have not yet been evaluated. We are not afraid even if the State government is now in confrontation mode," said All Odisha School-College Teachers’ and Employees’ United Forum convener, Pabitra Mahala.

With the teachers’ refusing to budge, the State government with no alternative has come up with a new notification asking examiners to evaluate 20 answer sheets instead of 15 per day. The new directive, though is aimed at completion of the evaluation of Plus Two answer copies on time, it has raised doubts over ‘error-free’ evaluation.

However, amid such a complex situation, the silence of the School and Mass Education Minister has certainly raised many eyebrows.

But the CHSE officials claimed that the evaluation process is on the right track and they are optimistic about timely publication of Plus-II results.

"Lecturers are joining in large numbers for evaluation. We hope to complete necessary ground work for publication of results as per schedule," said Deputy Controller of Examination, Prabodh Kumar Panda.