Classes at the Block Grant schools across the State resumed on Monday after over a month-and-a-half-long boycott by teachers who withdrew their strike on Sunday following discussions with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and School and Mass Education Minister Debi Prasad Mishra.
The striking teachers joined their duty on the assurance of the Government to meet their demands. Teachers from more than 4,000 schools had been on strike since August 10 demanding abolition of the Block Grant system.
More than 40,000 teachers of the 4,000-odd schools owing allegiance to the Odisha Vidyalaya Sikshak Mahasangh had withdrawn their stir following a notification issued by the Government based on the recommendation of the Inter-Ministerial Committee to bring 438 schools under the purview of the grant-in-aid (GIA) policy with effect from October 1.
However, another faction of the teachers owing allegiance to the Block Grant Secondary Sikshak & Karmachari Association representing 2,209 schools had threatened to continue with their agitation which included staging of a massive rally at the Chief Minister's constituency Hinjilikatu on September 28 as well as to keep schools closed. Notably, the schools that had joined the stir include 2,209 high schools, 916 elementary schools, 130 Sanskrit tolls and more than 40 madrasas.