With annual and board exams hovering over their heads, thousands of Government school students bear the brunt of the deadlock between the agitating school teachers and State Government as different cadres of teachers — including contract teachers, adhyapaks and gurujis went on an indefinite strike from Monday.

Reacting to the teachers’ announcement, the Rajya Shiksha Kendra (RSK) declared the strike as illegal and has warned that disciplinary action will be taken against the teachers if found absent from duty.

The school teachers had started the fresh round of agitation on February 15 with demonstrations at every district headquarter. They had already declared to go on three-day strike beginning from February 18. However, late in the evening on Monday, president of Adhyapak Samvida Shikshak Sanyukta Morcha Murlidhar Patidar announced that the strike will continue till the Government accepts their demands.

As part of the strike, the adhyapaks and contract teachers have taken mass leave and are also enforcing lockouts in Government schools. 

“In the State capital itself, more than 15,000 students were affected due to the lockouts on Monday. The number is going to increase as more teachers will be joining the lockout and take mass leave on Tuesday,” said Upendra Kaushal, secretary of the Adhyapak Samvida Shikshak Sanyukta Morcha, the joint front of contract teachers and adhyapaks which is spearheading the agitation.

Upendra claimed that the lockout was nearly complete in the rural areas as most of the rural schools only have contract teachers and adhyapaks instead of regular teachers.

He further informed that the agitating teachers have been approached by the higher authorities in the school education department with assurance that their demands will be considered if they resume their duties. “But such informal assurances cannot work. We want that our demands should be accepted without any condition at the highest level,” he said.

“In Eintkhedi — 35 schools were affected, 30 schools in Phanda and 16 in Arera Colony area were affected. There was no report of complete lockout of any school in the district,” said Bhopal District Education Officer (DEO) CM Upadhyay.

The agitating teachers are demanding that they should be paid salaries equivalent to the regular teachers according to Sixth Pay Commission recommendations and also that they should be merged with the School Education Department.

Meanwhile, late in the evening, School Education Minister Archana Chitnis has declared that salaries of the teachers are being hiked and they should resume their work immediately.