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Massive Teachers' Protest in Pune! Huge Rally at the Education Commissionerate on May 11
Pune/Malegaon: The Maharashtra State Junior College Teachers' Federation has expressed strong displeasure, alleging that oppressive conditions regarding 'Staff Approval' (Sanch Manyata) are being imposed upon junior college teachers across Maharashtra. This policy has sparked fears that approximately 10,000 to 12,000 teachers across the state could be rendered 'surplus' (redundant).
The Education Department announced new criteria for Staff Approval on March 15, 2024. The Federation claims that these criteria will render thousands of junior colleges ineligible for government grants and result in a massive reduction in teaching positions. Thousands of teachers in primary and secondary schools have already been rendered surplus; it is now being alleged that this very same experiment is being implemented at the higher secondary level.
**Major Blow to Rural Areas**
According to the new rules, the student-teacher ratio has been fixed at 120 students per class, with a limit of 40 students per practical batch. Objections have been raised that this move will curtail educational opportunities for students in rural, remote, and marginalized communities—particularly for girls. Policies such as excluding students over the age of 20 from official enrollment counts and revoking concessions previously granted to tribal regions are also being strongly condemned.
The Federation has resolved to organize a massive protest rally at the office of the Education Commissioner in Pune on May 11, 2026. Thousands of teachers from government-aided and partially-aided institutions across the state are expected to participate in this agitation.
The Federation's President, Prof. Dr. Sanjay Shinde; General Secretary, Prof. Laxman Rode; and Coordinator, Prof. Mukund Andhalkar, have issued a stern warning to the government: if this 'warning protest' is ignored, a far more intense struggle will be launched in the future.
Pune/Malegaon: The Maharashtra State Junior College Teachers' Federation has expressed strong displeasure, alleging that oppressive conditions regarding 'Staff Approval' (Sanch Manyata) are being imposed upon junior college teachers across Maharashtra. This policy has sparked fears that approximately 10,000 to 12,000 teachers across the state could be rendered 'surplus' (redundant).
The Education Department announced new criteria for Staff Approval on March 15, 2024. The Federation claims that these criteria will render thousands of junior colleges ineligible for government grants and result in a massive reduction in teaching positions. Thousands of teachers in primary and secondary schools have already been rendered surplus; it is now being alleged that this very same experiment is being implemented at the higher secondary level.
**Major Blow to Rural Areas**
According to the new rules, the student-teacher ratio has been fixed at 120 students per class, with a limit of 40 students per practical batch. Objections have been raised that this move will curtail educational opportunities for students in rural, remote, and marginalized communities—particularly for girls. Policies such as excluding students over the age of 20 from official enrollment counts and revoking concessions previously granted to tribal regions are also being strongly condemned.
The Federation has resolved to organize a massive protest rally at the office of the Education Commissioner in Pune on May 11, 2026. Thousands of teachers from government-aided and partially-aided institutions across the state are expected to participate in this agitation.
The Federation's President, Prof. Dr. Sanjay Shinde; General Secretary, Prof. Laxman Rode; and Coordinator, Prof. Mukund Andhalkar, have issued a stern warning to the government: if this 'warning protest' is ignored, a far more intense struggle will be launched in the future.
The Education Department announced new criteria for Staff Approval on March 15, 2024. The Federation claims that these criteria will render thousands of junior colleges ineligible for government grants and result in a massive reduction in teaching positions. Thousands of teachers in primary and secondary schools have already been rendered surplus; it is now being alleged that this very same experiment is being implemented at the higher secondary level.
**Major Blow to Rural Areas**
According to the new rules, the student-teacher ratio has been fixed at 120 students per class, with a limit of 40 students per practical batch. Objections have been raised that this move will curtail educational opportunities for students in rural, remote, and marginalized communities—particularly for girls. Policies such as excluding students over the age of 20 from official enrollment counts and revoking concessions previously granted to tribal regions are also being strongly condemned.
The Federation has resolved to organize a massive protest rally at the office of the Education Commissioner in Pune on May 11, 2026. Thousands of teachers from government-aided and partially-aided institutions across the state are expected to participate in this agitation.
The Federation's President, Prof. Dr. Sanjay Shinde; General Secretary, Prof. Laxman Rode; and Coordinator, Prof. Mukund Andhalkar, have issued a stern warning to the government: if this 'warning protest' is ignored, a far more intense struggle will be launched in the future.
