Maharashtra shuts 25,000 schools today; big protest erupts ahead of 10th board exams

Mumbai (The Uttam Hindu): The education system in Maharashtra has collapsed just before the 10th class board examinations. Teachers and staff of private, partially aided and unaided schools across the state have launched a massive agitation today, December 5, to press for their pending demands. Due to this, around 25,000 schools in the state are closed. Although the strike is having a mixed impact in Mumbai city, schools in other parts of the state, including Marathwada, are completely shut. From headmasters to non-teaching staff, studies in around 18,000 schools of classes 9th and 10th are involved in this strike.

This conflict between the government and teachers' organizations now appears to be turning into a do-or-die battle. The government has adopted a strict stance to crush this movement. The state government has issued clear orders that teaching should not be disrupted under any circumstances on December 5th. Dr. Mahesh Palkar, Director of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, has directed all district education officers and the Mumbai Municipal Corporation to take strict action against principals and teachers who keep schools closed. Furthermore, the government has warned that employees participating in the protest will face a one-day salary deduction.

This salary cut order has only added fuel to the fire. Teachers' organizations have become even more enraged by this government action. The Metropolitan Teachers' Association has strongly criticized this move, calling it an attack on teachers' rights, and has pledged full support to the movement. The protesting teachers are primarily demanding a reconsideration of teacher adjustment, the abolition of the TET requirement, a ban on contractual employment, and a reduction in the burden of online and non-academic work. The union has made it clear that they will not back down until their demands are met, which is likely to further intensify the crisis in the coming days.