Demanding permanent recruitment of art teachers in schools and colleges, Odisha Sikhit Kalakar Manch (OSKM) threatened to gherao the State Assembly here during the Monsoon Session on August 21. The forum also declared to hold a State wide agitation to press for its demands.
The School and Mass Education Department on January 11 last had recruited part-time art and sports teacher at every high school across the State even though we have been demanding for permanent appointment of the teachers, lamented the Manch.
“The Government in the last Assembly session had assured to provide art education in 314 nodal schools at every block headquarters, 30 model high schools at the district headquarters and in every Eklabya School and Kasturba Shikshashram by recruiting permanent art teachers, but nothing has been done yet. As a result, lakhs of students in the State are not getting art education whereas thousands of artisans with degree are deprived of any employment opportunity,” the Manch said.
Though art education in college or university level is a part of the education syllabus and included in the Government plans, the Government has not taken any step to include the art education in several universities.
Due to lack of concern of the Government for promoting the State’s art and culture and the unemployed people with degrees in art in the State, a permanent recruitment process has not yet been started, alleged the Manch.