Mega test for edu board as teachers’ stir may impact exams

Nagpur: Following the statewide indefinite strike called by government employees demanding reverting to old pension scheme (OPS), Nagpur Zilla Parishad officials have prepared a contingency plan to deal with the impact. Conducting the ongoing board exams may also become difficult if teachers from government and grant-in-aid schools stay firm on their decision to walk out.
Saumya Sharma, ZP CEO, said, “A meeting was held at divisional commissioner’s office and we took stock of the situation. All primary health centres under ZP will function normally as we have contractual workers and the OPS does not concern them.”
The vast network of schools under ZP is also feared to be impacted by the strike if teachers strike work. Sharma said, “So far, we have not received any intimation from ZP school teachers about their participation in the strike. Still, the education department is coordinating to ensure that things work smoothly.”
Apart from the regular functioning of schools, the biggest concern in education sector is the ongoing board exams.
Nagpur divisional board chairman Chintaman Vanjari said, “On Tuesday, we have a bifocal exam for which very few students are registered. So, managing that is not going to be a challenge at all even if teachers go on strike. I have discussed the matter with teachers’ unions and they have promised that no action of theirs will disrupt the board exams.”
This may mean that teachers would only complete their exam duties and not undertake any other assignment.
However, unions are firm in their stand that the strike would be absolute. Maharashtra Rajya Shiksha Parishad (Nagpur chapter) president Subhash Gotmare said, “On Monday, we had a round of discussion with the state government but no solution was found. So as of now, we will stay firm on our position of going for a full strike.”
Vanjari said, “For board exam, we have to see how Tuesday’s bifocal paper goes. If we face a problem, then Wednesday’s SSC exam will be a big problem. But I am confident that everything will work out smoothly.”