Maharashtra Teachers Grapple with Critical Dilemma as Multiple Essential Duties Collide
Teachers and non-teaching staff across Maharashtra are confronting unprecedented uncertainty as the rescheduled district council and panchayat samiti elections directly conflict with crucial board practical examinations and the mandatory Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET). This administrative clash has created a perfect storm of competing responsibilities, leaving educators torn between essential duties that could determine their professional futures.
Essential Services Collide: Election Work Meets Academic Responsibilities
The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education is currently conducting Class X and XII practical examinations, while simultaneously, teachers are being deployed for election-related work. Both functions are categorized as essential services, creating an impossible situation for educators who must choose between their immediate professional obligations and their long-term career security.
Teachers across the state report that this convergence of multiple responsibilities has taken a severe toll on their mental wellbeing. The pressure of determining which duty to prioritize has created significant stress and anxiety among educational staff, who find themselves caught between competing systems that show little coordination.
Revised Election Schedule Creates CTET Conflict
Following a three-day state mourning period that reduced campaigning time for political parties, the Election Commission revised the poll schedule. Voting for district councils and panchayat samitis was postponed from February 5 to February 7, while counting was shifted from February 7 to February 9.
This revised calendar has created a critical problem for teachers preparing to appear for CTET, which has become mandatory under Supreme Court orders. On September 1, 2025, the apex court ruled that teachers who fail to clear the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) or CTET by 2027 would be removed from service, making these examinations career-defining events.
Limited Examination Centers Compound the Crisis
CTET examinations are scheduled for February 7 and 8 and are being conducted at only seven centers across Maharashtra, including Mumbai, Nagpur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Amravati, and Solapur. With such limited examination facilities, teachers from several districts will need to travel long distances to appear for the test.
This geographical challenge raises serious concerns about feasibility if teachers are simultaneously assigned election duty. The logistical nightmare of traveling to distant examination centers while fulfilling election responsibilities appears nearly impossible for many educators.
Administrative Response and Teacher Concerns
Taking note of the developing crisis, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district collector Deelip Swami issued a letter on Friday directing the Zilla Parishad to compile details of teachers who applied for CTET. Officials indicate this data collection aims to assess the scale of the problem and explore possible administrative solutions.
Vijay Salkar, district president of Maharashtra Rajya Prathmik Shikshak Samiti, the state's largest and oldest teachers' union, highlighted the severity of the situation. "The Supreme Court has clearly stated that teachers who do not clear TET exams before 2027 will lose their jobs. CTET is conducted by the central government, and nearly 75% of teachers filled exam forms this time. They are now caught in a dilemma over whether to appear for the exam or report for election duty," he explained.
Salkar has demanded that teachers appearing for CTET be exempted from election duties, arguing that their career survival depends on successful examination completion.
Unprecedented Response to CTET Registration
Maharashtra Rajya Shikshak Wa Shikshetar Sena state spokesperson Mahesh Labade noted that CTET dates were announced three months ago and saw an unprecedented response from teachers across the state. "Considering the high number of candidates and limited centers, some teachers have been scheduled for the exam on February 7, while others will appear on February 8. Forcing them into election duty during this period will directly jeopardize their careers," he emphasized.
Labade has urged immediate intervention by the Election Commission to resolve this conflict, warning that failure to address the situation could have devastating consequences for Maharashtra's teaching community.
The current standoff represents more than just a scheduling conflict—it highlights systemic issues in coordinating essential services and protecting the professional futures of educators who serve multiple critical roles in society.
