Teachers put agitation on hold after Odisha govt assurance

Bhubaneswar: The agitating teachers put their agitation on hold till March 9 after the Odisha government on Sunday assured them to meet six out of their seven demands.

The agitation will be put on hold till March 9. The decision has been taken in view of the interest of students and their future, said School College Teachers and Employees United Forum convener Prakash Mohanty.

We will resume agitation if the government fails to meet our demands by March 9, he added.

“We put our agitation on hold till Mar 9 due to 10th and +2 exams. We urged the state government to issue notification addressing our demands after completion of the code of conduct for Bijepur by-poll, or else we will skip paper evaluation,” said Amiyabala Parida, Teacher’s Steering Committee member.

The teachers decided to put their agitation on hold at a steering committee meeting of School College Teachers and Employees United Forum following discussion with Higher Education Minister Ananta Das and School & Mass Education Minister Badri Narayan Patra at a meeting here on Sunday.

“We are hopeful that the teachers will withdraw their agitation or else the government will go for alternative measures for smooth conduct of matric and plus two examinations in the state,” said Higher Education Minister Ananta Das.

The Minister said the teachers have also responsibility towards the students and guardians.

He said the state government is focusing on the smooth and peaceful conduct of ensuing 10^th and +2 exams.