Notwithstanding the ongoing strike by the teachers, of aided schools and affiliated colleges, the State Government is all set to hold matriculation and intermediate examinations, being conducted by Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC) from February 21.
Sources said that Chief Secretary RS Sharma has sent letters to all the Deputy Commissioners to take necessary steps regarding smooth organization of this examination process.
JAC Chairman Anand Bhushan on Monday said that they firmly hope that the teachers will rejoin work before the examinations. “At the last moment, the teachers will surely realise their responsibility and help us during board exams,” he said.
State Human Resources Development Minister Geetashree Oraon on Sunday held a meeting with representatives of these teachers and assured to present their demands before the Cabinet.
However, her efforts to persuade the striking teachers to end their agitation failed. These teachers want that the permanent affiliated colleges should either be grated constituent status by the government or the staffs should be provided deficit grant. Also, they want the state government to make necessary amendments in the Vith Rahit Teachers Regulation 2005 and 2008. Their last demand is to provide grant to Sanskrit school and Madarsa teachers (in the list of aided schools and affiliated colleges).
The HRD minister said that the institutions which have accepted to host this exam cannot deny at the eleventh hour else strict action will be taken. Relating this fact, Bhushan disclosed that four centres involving Bokaro, Hazaribagh and Palamau districts have denied to conduct the exam.
HRD Principal Secretary K Vidyasagar had also directed all the District Education Officers and Deputy Commissioners to make adequate arrangements for peaceful exam atmosphere. Matric exam will be held in the first half and inter exams in the second half from Friday onwards. By March 7 matric exams will conclude. Inter exam will end by March 13.
As many as 4,80,628 students are appearing for matriculation exam in 895 centres across the state. For intermediate examinations, 2,99,329 students are appearing across 408 centres. The examination copies and question papers were delivered to respective centres by the council on Monday.