Maharashtra teachers hold Statewide strike over TET norms, Govt. resolution on student-teacher ratio

Nearly 1.8 lakh teachers across Maharashtra staged a day-long strike on Friday (December 5, 2025), shutting down over 95% of Zilla Parishad schools, 60% of municipal schools, and 75% of private aided schools, according to teachers‘ association in the State. The protest is coordinated by 35 unions representing primary and secondary teachers as well as non-teaching staff from across the state.   

Active Teachers Forum convener Bhau Chaskar, a ZP school teacher from Ahilyanagar (Akole block), said the agitation was widespread in areas where the election code of conduct was not in force. “Parents’ unions also joined us in some places. The core issue is professional dignity—after completing D.Ed and B.Ed, teachers face arbitrary changes in norms. The government must amend the Right to Education Act and roll back regressive policies,” he said.

The flashpoint is the Government Resolution (GR) dated March 15, 2024, which prescribes a stringent student-teacher ratio. Protesters argue that this will force closure of nearly 17,000 schools, especially in rural and tribal belts, where enrolment often falls below 20 students. “If implemented, this will wipe out teachers from these areas, pushing children into child labour and early marriage. It’s a violation of RTE provisions,” Mr. Chaskar warned. 

The GR also mandates adjustment of schools with low student strength, which unions say will disrupt education and violate RTE norms requiring access to schools in every habitation. Teachers demand the policy be scrapped, and the government ensures no closures under the guise of rationalization. 

Teachers also slammed the growing burden of non-academic tasks and app-based monitoring. “Uploading photos for NGO-driven programs like STARS, funded by the World Bank, means taking children 4 km away for network access. These activities erode teaching time and productivity,” said Chaskar.  

Vijay Kombe, State President, Maharashtra Rajya Prathmaik Shishak Samiti, from Wardha, said the strike began at 10 a.m. and ended at 6.30 p.m. without any response from the government. “We demand immediate withdrawal of the GR, rollback of the Teacher Aptitude Test (TAT), and an end to non-teaching duties. How can one teacher handle three classes? This is unacceptable,” Kombe asserted. 

The unions have warned of an indefinite strike if their demands—TET verification clarity, pay scale revisions, pension settlements, and filling of rural vacancies—are ignored. “This is not just about primary education; secondary schools are equally affected,” Mr. Kombe added.