Bihar: Upset Contract Teachers to Gherao MLA, MLCs Residences in Mid-July

Patna: Thousands of contractual teachers will "gherao" official residences of MLAs and MLCs on July 11 and 12.  The teachers are upset over the state government’s neglect of their demands to amend the new recruitment rules and go ahead with the appointment of teachers ignoring their protest since last month.

Leaders of Bihar Madhyamik Shikshak Sangh (BMSS) and Bihar Rajya Prathmik Shikshak Sangh (BRPSS), two major associations of contractual teachers, said they will intensify their peaceful protest.

"Contractual teachers are left with no option but to stage a peaceful protest on July 11, the second day of monsoon session of the Bihar Assembly. This decision was taken in our meeting. Despite contractual teachers continuing with their satyagraha against the new recruitment rules, the government is not ready to talk" Shatrugan Singh, former a Communist Party of Indian (CPI) MP and leader of BMSS, told NewsClick.

Singh said dozens of MLAs, MLCs and leaders of the ruling Mahagathbandan (Grand Alliance) and Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had supported the demands of protesting contractual teachers, but the government’s approach has been different.

Singh said a large number of contractual teachers from all over the state would gherao their local MLAs and MLCs residence in Patna till the government announces to give them status of government employees.

BRPS leader Barajnandan Sharma also said that contractual teachers would launch "Ghera Dalo-Dera Dalo" protests at the residence of all MLAs and MLCs. "This will be the start of a new round of protest by contractual teachers and the protest will be intensified now”, he added.

Another BRPSS leader Manoj Kumar reiterated , "The government should amend new recruitment rules and declare to give contractual teachers the status of government employees".

However, Bihar Education Minister Chandrasekhar said the new recruitment rules were in the interest of the state, and contractual teachers had been protesting against it “without any reason”. "Contractual teachers should not worry about new recruitment rules, it is for quality education", he told reporters.

Chandrasekhar said the teachers had the right to protest but they should first write an examination and pass it.
Earlier, he justified the new rules and appointment of teachers through examination by BPSC.

Early this month, contractual teachers protesting against new recruitment rules decided not to fill out application forms for appointment as teachers without the status of government employees.

Contractual teachers are against going through another examination and are demanding the government give them the state government employee status without any condition.

The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) notified the appointment of 1.70 lakh school teachers last month. Now, it has formally invited online applications from teacher aspirants for appointment from June 15 to July 12. The protesting teachers see this as a setback to their struggle.

Under the Bihar State School Teachers (appointment, transfer, disciplinary action and service condition) Rules, 2023, teachers are to be appointed under one standardised process and have status equivalent to state government employees with separate district cadres.

According to contractual teachers, candidates who cracked the Teacher’s Eligibility Test (TET) and were hired, will likely have to retake a centralised BPSC exam.

Last month, contractual teachers observed a ‘black day’, held phase-wise protest marches, dharna and burnt copies of the new rules across the state. Associations comprising more than 3.5 lakh contractual teachers joined to protest the new rules.

The Left parties - CPI(ML), CPI, CPI(M) -- allies of ruling Grand Alliance in the state, have also questioned the new rules and are supporting the protesting teachers.

Opposition BJP has also criticised the state government for “imposing new rules on contractual teachers” and backed the protesting teachers.