Ongoing strike of teachers not to impact HSC, Plus II exams: Minister

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has said that the ongoing strike of non-government-aided school and college teachers will not impact on the upcoming matriculation and Plus II exams.

“The government is fully prepared to conduct the exams. Even if the agitating teachers and school and college staff do not cooperate, we will be able to hold the examination smoothly,” Higher Education Minister Ananta Das told the media persons.

With the teachers demanding that the state government should give a written assurance of withdrawal of the new rule of the affidavit, the Minister said as the model election code of conduct is in force for the upcoming Bijepur by-poll, the state government is unable to notify the decision it has taken after considering the demands of the agitating teachers and non-teaching staff.

The All Odisha School and College Teachers’ and Employees’ Forum is a protesting against the state government rule that makes it mandatory for teachers and employees to submit an affidavit before the government declaring that they would withdraw all court cases against the government and not move court against the government in the future if they wish to avail themselves of grant-in-aid (GIA) facilities.

Meanwhile, the School and Mass Education Secretary PK Mohapatra Saturday asked the District Magistrates (DMs) to prepare a contingency plan at to ensure smooth completion of Class 10 and Plus II examinations.

The Collectors were asked to prepare the contingency plan for High School Certificate (HSC) examination at their level and submit the plan to the government by February 19.

“Higher Secondary/+2 Examination 2018 is going to be held from 6th to 29th March 2018 and I am sure that the examination will be conducted smoothly with the full cooperation of all the teachers,” the secretary told the Collectors in another letter.

“I am given to understand that, in the meantime, a group of non- government Higher Secondary Schools/ junior colleges teachers have staged ‘dharana’ at Lower PMG from 7th February 2018. The government has taken necessary steps to address their grievances. In the unlikely event of any call for non-cooperation, you are requested to be in readiness with a contingent plan to meet any such eventuality,” he instructed.

He suggested engaging the teaching and non-teaching staff of degree colleges, training colleges and high schools of the district as invigilators and supporting staff.