Board to ask retired teachers to check Class XII answersheets

Sarjerao Jadhav,chairman,Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) said the board has decided to advertise the need for retired teachers by next week.

“The board has decided to call upon the services of teachers who retired in last three years. The advertising division has been asked to advertise the same and we hope that the retired teachers will turn up,” said Jadhav. “Once the entries come up,we will select the teachers who have earlier worked as examiners and moderators. Their data will be checked and then we will appoint them,” he added.

The Maharashtra Retired Junior College Teachers Union (MRJCTU) has,however,opposed the move and expressed solidarity with the protesting teachers. “The protesting teachers are our brothers. Plus there is no provision in the board rules to give us work after retiring. All the retired teachers are a strong group and I can assure that none of the retired teachers will respond to the advertisement,” said Mukund Andalkar,president,MRJCTU.

He added,“The syllabus for Class XII exams was changed this year. So a retired teacher is not the right person to check the papers.”

Meanwhile talks between Maharashtra State Federation of Junior College Teachers (MSFJCT) and government again failed on Thursday. “We will continue to boycott the exams. The government has not given any assurances in writing. The results will be delayed and the whole blame lies with the government. We have been warning them since August and till date they have not agreed to a single demand,” said Anil Deshmukh,secretary,MSFJCT.

An official from the state board agreed with the protesting teachers and said,“Parents think the board is to be blamed. But what can we do. We are conducting the exams without any major glitches. If the government can’t accept the teachers’ non-financial demands then it is completely government’s failure.”

He further said,“If government doesn’t resolve the issues fast and if none of the retired teachers come up for assessment,then the results will be delayed and it will be a huge loss to the students.”