Guest Teachers' Protest Continues; Demonstrators Stand Firm for Seventh Day Demanding 11-Month Service Extension and Honorarium Payment
Bhagalpur: The ongoing protest by guest teachers in support of their various demands is now intensifying. Guest teachers working in government schools across the state, including Bhagalpur, have been protesting continuously for the past seven days. The teachers have maintained their sit-in demonstration in front of the district headquarters and education department offices, primarily demanding an 11-month service extension and the payment of their pending honorarium.
What Are the Teachers' Key Demands?
The protesting guest teachers state that they have been serving in schools for years, yet uncertainty persists regarding their job security. Their primary demands include:
11-Month Service Extension: Teachers are demanding that they be granted a service extension for a full 11 months, rather than just during the active academic session. They argue that they are deprived of honorarium during summer vacations and other holidays, which makes it insufficient for supporting their families.
Regular Payment of Honorarium: There is an urgent demand for the immediate disbursement of long-pending honorariums. Teachers express that their mental and family lives are being adversely affected due to financial hardship.
Assurance of 'Equal Pay for Equal Work': The guest teachers have also demanded that the government provide them with benefits based on the principle of 'equal pay for equal work' until their services are regularized.
Impact on Education: Classes Disrupted
Due to the protest stretching into its seventh day, the teaching and learning process in schools is facing a severe impact. In many schools, where guest teachers comprise a significant portion of the faculty, academic activities have come to a standstill. Anxiety is rising among students and parents that if this issue is not resolved soon, it will become a major challenge to complete the syllabus before upcoming examinations.
Outrage Over Administrative Indifference
The protesting teachers allege that they are receiving only verbal assurances from high-ranking officials in the Education Department, while no concrete action is being taken on the ground. A teacher representative stated, "We will not step back until the government provides us with a written assurance. We are protesting peacefully regarding our demands, but the government continues to ignore us."
Future Strategy
Teacher organizations have warned that if the government does not consider their demands soon, they will turn this into a state-wide movement. In the coming days, guest teachers are preparing to stage a major demonstration in the capital, Patna. Furthermore, they have declared that if their legitimate demands are not met, they will be forced to go on an indefinite strike.
Currently, officials from the district administration and the Education Department are attempting to find a path for dialogue with a delegation of teachers, acknowledging the sensitivity of the situation. However, the teachers are now standing firm on their demand for a direct policy decision instead of mere oral assurances.
