Protest for speedy teacher recruitment process in Maharashtra continues, aspirant on fast-unto-death threatens to give up water

The last time the protestors went on a protest was in October but after assurances, the agitation was lifted.

Education Commissioner Suraj Mandhare said, “We are almost at the end of the teacher recruitment process. I hope Zilla Parishads will start issuing advertisements from next week.” (Express Photo)

There are over 60,000 vacancies in the zilla parishad, municipal council, corporation and private aided and semi-aided schools in Maharashtra.

The recruitment process through the government-run Pavitra Portal was initiated in September and by October, 1,62,562 candidates had registered and completed their self-certification process.

However, there has been no development since and no appointments have been made so far either.

“We were told by our Education Minister that the teacher recruitment would be done by June, when this academic year began, but it is November and we are still waiting for the appointments,” said Mahadev Gaikwad, a teacher from Beed district. “We demand that recruitment for the mandated seats be done immediately,” Gaikwad said.

“The process, which began in December last year, has still not been completed. The Education Minister extended the deadline from June to October but even the advertisements for the recruitment are yet to be out,” said Santosh Lashkare from Nanded, who has given up food in protest since Saturday, November 25.

Priyanka Patil, another TAIT-qualified teacher from Dhule awaiting recruitment said, “We are all stressed and anxious amid immense pressure from all sides, especially because we have families to support. On the other hand, students have been suffering due to lack of teachers and the slow recruitment process.”

Education Commissioner Suraj Mandhare said, “We are almost at the end of the teacher recruitment process. I hope Zilla Parishads will start issuing advertisements from next week. Initially, approximately 20,000 teachers will be recruited.”

The government had conducted the qualifying examination, ‘Teacher Aptitude and Intelligence Test (TAIT) 2022’, between February 22 and March 3 this year. As many as 2,16,443 candidates had appeared for the examination.