The hunger strike initiated by primary teachers in Himachal Pradesh has now entered its 46th day in Shimla, as they demand the withdrawal of the altered School Complex System. The teachers are advocating for the restoration of the previous resource-sharing arrangement, which they believe safeguards their promotion prospects.

The strike commenced on July 26, when a large number of primary educators from across the state marched over 15 days to reach Shimla. On that particular day, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu addressed the gathering, promising to consider their concerns. However, the teachers have expressed dissatisfaction, stating that they have not received any formal communication regarding these assurances, nor has the administrative notification necessary for their implementation been issued.

Harish Kumar, a primary teacher from Kangra district, noted that discussions with the government are ongoing at a departmental level. He highlighted that the core issue revolves around the modifications made to the cluster system, which previously enabled resources like teachers and facilities to be shared without altering the administrative hierarchy of schools.

Impact of Changes on Promotion Paths

Kumar further elaborated that the new system places primary schools under the oversight of principals, a structure that he and other educators oppose. He claims this shift may negatively influence the promotion pathways for many primary teachers, especially for positions like Chief State Teachers (CST) and Head Teachers (HT).

As a specific example, Kumar pointed out that placing a primary school under a principal’s control within a 500-metre radius could render the existing CST structure ineffective. He referenced the Kangra district, where he alleges that 13 Central Head Teacher posts and 33 Head Teacher posts have already been impacted by the new policies.

With over 30,000 primary teachers in the state, Kumar warned that the changes could have further ramifications, affecting not only current educators but also those who are retired and students engaged in JBT/D.El.Ed courses. He stressed the potential implications for future recruitment and promotion for candidates trained through these courses.

Firm Stance of Teachers and Future Actions

Despite their ongoing protest, the teachers have maintained that their strike will not disrupt classroom activities, as they manage to participate by taking leave and making necessary arrangements at their schools. Kumar affirmed that discussions are taking place, but the teachers will uphold their main demands until they receive a definitive resolution.

If their requests continue to go unaddressed, Kumar cautioned that the protest could escalate, with families and parents potentially joining the demonstrations. Another teacher, Kashmir Singh, reinforced their call to eliminate the new complex system in favour of the earlier resource-sharing model, while also urging the reinstatement of the promotion process for CST and HT positions.

Singh pointed out that with nursery classes being held in primary schools, there is a need for the creation of positions such as Multi-Task Workers (MTs) to support these classes. He reiterated that if their demands are ignored, the hunger strike could expand significantly, potentially bringing families onto the streets.

In addition, Kumar questioned government claims regarding improvements in the education sector’s performance, emphasising the pivotal role primary teachers have played in national educational assessments and literacy initiatives. He argued that primary teachers were instrumental in achieving notable milestones in the state’s educational progress.

As the hunger strike continues, the protesting educators expressed their resolve to maintain their agitation until their grievances are formally addressed. They welcomed the Chief Minister’s assurances but remain adamant that these must be documented officially to conclude their protest effectively.

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