Odisha teachers’ stir; CHSE to meet Tuesday to resolve crisis

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Apr 4:

The Council of Higher Secondary Education (CHSE) Odisha has called for an emergency meeting of the examination committee tomorrow to make alternative arrangements and decide on disciplinary action in view of evaluation of answer sheets of Plus Two examination being badly affected on the first day as block grant lecturers belonging to the 662 and 488 category boycotted evaluation.

“Stopping of evaluation of answer papers is a crime; punitive action can be taken against them. They (teachers who have boycotted evaluation of answer sheets) are warned of disciplinary action against them if they do not join evaluation work. I have called for an emergency meeting of the examination committee tomorrow to discuss on alternative arrangements. Whatever decision is taken at the meeting we will adhere to that,” said Basudeb Chhatoi, chairman of CHSE speaking to reporters here today.

Evaluation of answer sheets of the Plus Two examination was badly affected across the state as lecturers and employees of 662 and 488 category block grant colleges boycotted evaluation of answer sheets and staged dharna in front of evaluation centres.

“We appeal to all teachers across the state to boycott evaluation of answer sheets till our demands are fulfilled. We would like to warn the government that until our demands are fulfilled we are not going to withdraw our stir,” said a block grant teacher on dharna in Keonjhar.

“The kind of block grant system in vogue in Odisha exists in no other state in the country. We demand the abolition of block grant system. We are hopeful the government will accept our demands,” said another agitating teacher.