Bhubaneswar (Odisha Tazanews) :- Silver Gandhi Fame Mohan Mahapatra demanded regularisation of contractual education instructors in government schools of the State. Submitting a memorandum to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Shri Mahapatra invited his urgent attention over the hardships of around 1200 part time teachers servicing in government schools in different parts of Odisha since last 14 years.
Shri Mahapatra pleaded for Chief Minister’s Personal intervention to frame a comprehensive job policy for these teachers as specified in National Education Policy. During the meeting Shri Majhi assured Shri Mahapatra to look into this humanitarian problem sympathetically.
As per the memorandum serious issues Pertaining to the service conditions of Contractual / Part-Time Art Education Instructors (Music & Visual Arts) and Physical Education Instructors (PETs) engaged in Government Schools across Odisha have been long-pending.
These instructors have been rendering dedicated and invaluable services for several years, imparting quality education in Music, Visual Arts, Health and Physical Education, thereby making a significant contribution towards the holistic development of students. Their services have become indispensable for implementing activity-based learning, promoting physical fitness, nurturing artistic talent, preserving cultural heritage and ensuring overall personality development of children.
The National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 has unequivocally recognised Art Education, Music Education and Physical Education as integral components of school education and has strongly recommended their mainstream integration within the curriculum. In addition, the High-Level Expert Committee constituted by the Government has also recommended strengthening school education through appropriate manpower planning.
Despite their crucial role, the casual teachers continue to remain deprived of regular service benefits, a defined service structure, promotional avenues, job security and other legitimate entitlements. The prolonged continuation of contractual engagement has caused serious hardships to hundreds of qualified instructors and their families.
In view of these genuine grievances, Shri Mahapatra earnestly requested CM to take early steps for fulfilling following long standing demands.The demands include framing of a comprehensive Government policy for the regularisation of Contractual/Part-Time Art Education Instructors and PETs serving in Government Schools, Constituting a separate statutory service cadre for Art Education and Physical Education Instructors with well-defined recruitment rules, service conditions, seniority and promotional avenues,
Extending regular Government service benefits, including pay protection, increments, leave, pensionary benefits and other admissible entitlements as per Government norms, recognising the services already rendered by these instructors for the purpose of seniority and continuity of service and ensuring that the proposed policy is fully aligned with the objectives of NEP-2020 and the recommendations of the High-Level Expert Committee.
Considering the educational importance of these disciplines and the legitimate aspirations of the affected instructors, Shri Mahapatra appealed to Chief Minister for expeditious consideration and early issuance of an appropriate Government policy with an aim to mitigate the miseries of these teachers. Distinguished dignitaries present during the meeting of Silver Gandhi with CM Shri Majhi include Industry Minister Sampad Swain, MLAs Siddhanta Mohapatra,Aakash Das Nayak, Babu Singh, Noted film comedian Hari mahapatra and Ollywood hero Shreetam Das.
