Bhubaneswar: Students across Odisha have extended their support to the teachers agitating under the banner of Odisha School College Teachers' and Employees' United Forum (OSCTUF).
The teachers have been agitating since March 19 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 has been nearly six days since the agitating teachers decided to boycott the evaluation of Plus-II answer sheets. They are still firm on their decision as a result of which publication of the results is likely to get delayed this year.
According to sources, although 5,800 teachers were asked to join the evaluation process this year; over 50 per cent of them have not joined duty due to the ongoing stir by Block Grant, 488 category and 662 category teachers.
The Council has appointed degree college lecturers and retired professors to evaluate the answer sheets in place of the absentee teachers. The teachers and students have protested this move of the council.
"Till date only 10,000 out of 2.2 lakh answer sheets have been evaluated. The teachers engaged for evaluation also have started withdrawing from the process by producing medical certificates. They are unable to evaluate the answer sheets as they have no knowledge of the course. The Council should request the State government to fulfill the demands of the teachers who have taught the course and are able to evaluate the answer sheets to resolve the issue," said convener of OSCTUF, Golak Nayak.
"We want the faulty evaluation of answer sheets should be stopped and demands of our teachers be fulfilled. Our teachers who have taught us are unable to evaluate the sheets. How inexperienced and retired teachers will be able to evaluate our answer sheets," said a student from Puri, Rojalin Baliarsingh.
"We came to know through media about the agitation of our teachers, who are fighting for us so that we will excel in future. We extend our support to them and demand that our answer sheets should be evaluated by the teachers who are well versed with our curriculum and have taught us," said another student.
After receiving a warning from the CHSE that FIR will be lodged against the absentee teachers, the OSCTUF has intensified the agitation.
"The government had given us April 2 deadline and prior to it the Chief Minister's Office had issued notification twice. The deadline has passed and now if the government takes action against any of us, all teachers across Odisha will join hands and boycott the upcoming Plus-III examinations," said President of 448-category college lecturers association, Pabitra Mahala.
School and Mass Education Minister Badri Narayan Patra denied commenting on the issue.