Agitating Odisha teachers suspend strike

BHUBANESHWAR: The agitating teachers of schools and colleges in Odisha today announced the suspension of their week-long strike till March 9 after Odisha government assured them to fulfil six out of their seven demands.

After a meeting with two education ministers, the teachers put on hold the strike till March 9 in view of the examinations of students appearing for board examinations of classes X and XII, School College Teachers and Employees United Forum convener Prakash Mohanty said.

"We will resume agitation if the government fails to meet the demands by March 9," he said after a meeting of the steering committee of the Forum.

The meeting was held after state School and Mass Education Minister Badri Narayan Patra and Higher Education Minister Ananta Das discussed the issue with agitating teachers.

"We are hopeful that the teachers will withdraw their agitation. Else the government will go for alternative measures for smooth conduct of Matriculation and Plus two examinations," said Das after the discussion.

The matriculation and Plus II examinations in the state begin on February 23 and March 6 respectively.

Among others, the teachers have been demanding grant-in-aid for them.