Teacher Aspirants Protest in Bhubaneswar, Demand Immediate Recruitment for Vacant Posts

Bhubaneswar: Hundreds of aspiring teachers gathered at Lower PMG in Bhubaneswar on Monday, seeking immediate recruitment against vacant teaching positions in government schools across Odisha.

The protest was organised by the All Odisha Teachers Aspirants Association, which demanded recruitment for vacant posts in government primary and high schools, special educator positions and Odisha Adarsha Vidyalayas.

The protesters also called for regular teacher recruitment notifications and appointment of eligible candidates against existing vacancies. They warned that the agitation would be intensified if the state government failed to respond to their demands.

Association president Swagat Das alleged that fresh teacher recruitment had remained stalled for nearly two years. He urged the government to issue recruitment notifications without further delay.

According to Das, the state has around 60,000 vacant teaching positions in primary schools and more than 15,000 vacancies in high schools.

He also referred to an earlier government announcement regarding the recruitment of 45,000 teachers, alleging that the promised recruitment has not progressed as expected.

“Our demand is straightforward — the government should immediately begin the teacher recruitment process and issue the promised notifications,” Das said, adding that the association would continue its protest if no action was taken.

A woman participating in the demonstration also expressed frustration over the delay and questioned the government’s handling of the recruitment issue.

Meanwhile, Odisha NSUI president Bibhuti Bhusan Mohapatra extended support to the protesting aspirants. He alleged that thousands of qualified candidates, including those who have completed Plus Two, graduation, postgraduate studies, B.Ed, CT and OTET, are waiting for employment opportunities.

Mohapatra claimed that more than 60,000 teacher posts remain vacant across the state and accused the government of failing to address the shortage.

He said the NSUI would continue supporting the teachers’ movement until the government takes concrete steps towards recruitment.

The protesting aspirants said they would remain at Lower PMG and intensify their agitation if the government does not issue fresh recruitment notifications and initiate the process of filling vacant teaching posts.