Thousands of guest teachers from across Madhya Pradesh converged on the State capital on Wednesday, launching a massive demonstration under the banner of the School Guest Teachers United Front (School Atithi Shikshak Sanyukta Morcha). The protest, fuelled by what educators describe as a blatant breach of trust by the State Government, saw participants braving the scorching heat to demand the immediate fulfillment of promises made prior to the assembly elections. The teachers warned that if their grievances remain unaddressed, then the movement will be intensified to a state-wide level, signalling a significant challenge for the current administration. Over 1.25 lakh educators face financial and professional uncertainty The primary point of contention stems from the Government’s failure to implement a promised policy for guest teachers modelled after the ‘Guruji’ cadre. State President Sunil Singh Parihar emphasised that before the elections, authorities had committed to securing the future of guest teachers through annual contracts and providing bonus marks in direct recruitment processes. Despite public assurances from high-ranking officials, including Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the teachers claim that no concrete decisions have been taken, leaving over 1.25 lakh educators in a state of financial and professional uncertainty.

 

A critical concern raised during the agitation is the looming threat of mass unemployment following the April 30 deadline, as the Government allegedly retreats from its commitment to a 12-month annual contract system. Senior officials within the Front, including Ramchandra Nagar and K C Pawar,demanded that experienced guest teachers who have been displaced by fresh recruitment, promotions, or transfers should be prioritised for existing vacancies. The organisation argued that their long-standing service and established qualifications justify a permanent solution rather than the current system of temporary, insecure employment. The teachers also highlighted several administrative and systemic hurdles that have further complicated their working conditions. State Secretary Ravikant Gupta pointed out that technical glitches within the e-attendance system frequently lead to failed logins, resulting in unfair salary deductions and pending honorariums from as far back as September. Furthermore, there is significant resentment regarding the recruitment scorecard system, where teachers serving since 2008 are reportedly only credited with five years of experience.

 

The Front is demanding a revised scoring method that awards 10 marks per year of service to accurately reflect their extensive professional contributions. In a formal charter of demands, the United Front called for the conduct of a special departmental eligibility examination for regularisation, with at least 30% of posts reserved specifically for guest teachers. Their demands extend to social security benefits, including Insurance, Provident Fund (PF), and health facilities, as well as a standardised leave policy. By citing precedents from states like Haryana and Chhattisgarh, where experience-based preference and regularisation have already been implemented, the protesters underscored that their demands are both practical and necessary to ensure justice for the educators shaping the State’s future.