A massive statewide strike by teachers' organisations on Friday led to the closure of more than 25,000 schools across Maharashtra. The protests were called to oppose several key government policies, including the mandatory Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) and the newly introduced Sanch Manyata rules governing teacher approval and recruitment.
Statewide Impact and Protest Details
According to official data from the state education department, the strike saw 13,216 teachers absent without permission across Maharashtra. The impact in the Mumbai division was relatively contained, with only nine schools reported closed and 767 teachers participating in the strike. However, the protest's scale was significant in other regions.
Major teachers' unions organised rallies in key cities. The Shikshak Bharati, led by Subhash More and former MLC Kapil Patil, staged a demonstration outside the deputy director’s office on Charni Road in Mumbai. Simultaneously, the Shikshak Sena, under MLC JM Abhyankar and working president Jalindar Sarode, held a protest in Chembur.
The Core Issues: Sanch Manyata and TET
The primary trigger for the agitation is the Sanch Manyata policy, introduced via a government resolution on March 15, 2024. This policy establishes group recognition for schools and includes a controversial clause that prohibits assigning teachers to schools with fewer than 20 students.
Unions fear the policy's full implementation, scheduled for December 5, 2024, will have devastating consequences. They warn it could lead to the closure of nearly 18,000 schools and render 20,000 to 25,000 teachers and administrative staff unemployed. The policy has been labelled "disruptive and harmful," with leaders arguing it poses a severe threat to government-aided education, especially in rural and hilly regions.
"The move will force many children to travel 10-15 kilometres every day," said Shamshuddin Attar, convener of the Sindhudurg Principals’ Association. "We are opposing the move and have decided to challenge it in the Supreme Court." Attar added that while the high court clarified no teacher would lose their job directly, students in remote villages would suffer the most.
Broader Concerns and Union Demands
The second major point of contention is the mandatory Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) for all educators. Union leaders argue that forcing experienced teachers, including those nearing retirement, to clear TET is unnecessary and unfair.
"The rule is unfair, and the compulsory TET for teachers nearing retirement is another major concern," stated Vijay Kombe, president of the Maharashtra Rajya Prathamik Shikshak Samiti. Tanaji Kambale, President of the Maharashtra Progressive Teachers Union in Jogeshwari, echoed this, stating that mandatory exams were redundant for teachers with a proven track record.
The unions also expressed worry that the Sanch Manyata policy, by restricting subject teachers for students in Classes 9 and 10, would negatively impact educational quality, particularly for children in underprivileged areas. The widespread protest highlights a significant crisis in the state's education sector, with the future of thousands of schools, teachers, and students hanging in the balance.
