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Time of India
01-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Freezed since 2012, teacher hiring must restart: Former ZP member
Nagpur: As almost 70 teachers from Nagpur's Zilla Parishad (ZP) schools retired last week, it was a grim reminder for the local body education system where teacher hiring has been stopped since 2012. Each year, the retirees keep moving out, but no fresh full-time staff is being hired, say former officials. In the interim, excess teachers were shuffled across schools to fill gaps. Sharad Bhandarkar, former Kendra Pramukh who oversaw a cluster of ZP schools in Nagpur, said, "Slowly over the next decade or so, the full-time teacher strength would have dwindled drastically. The govt must restart hiring of teachers. Sixty-eight of them retired last week, and this trend continues." There are around 6,000 teachers in ZP schools, but these units face a problem of low enrolment. There are ZP schools where fewer than 20 students study, which then impacts the number of teachers who can be assigned to the school. This is because the state govt has a pupil-teacher ratio, popularly called PTR, and that dictates the hiring dynamics. Education office sources suggest that falling student enrolment — partly due to migration towards English-medium institutions — has also affected staff numbers. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cervecería Nacional CFD: Calcula cuánto podrías ganar invirtiendo solo $100 Empieza a invertir Inscríbete ahora Undo But former ZP member, Avantika Lekurwale, who headed the Women and Child Welfare Committee, said students will flock to schools if quality education is provided. She said, "Many Marathi-medium schools in Nagpur are thriving because they offer strong learning outcomes. Quality of education in schools is the key to retaining students as already several schools have shifted to semi-English instruction, proving that medium is not the core concern. For the last 12 years, not a single teacher was hired, and we have almost 700 vacancies." To partially address this, the govt has begun hiring contract teachers, Lekurwale said. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
MNS welcomes revoking of compulsory Hindi GRs
Nagpur: The (MNS) has welcomed the state govt's decision to withdraw the controversial government resolutions (GRs) mandating Hindi as a compulsory third language from Class I. The party has called it a victory for Marathi pride and a direct result of party chief 's steadfast opposition. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Nagpur-based Sharad Bhandarkar, state general secretary of MNS Shikshak Shikshattar Sena (teaching and non-teaching staff association), said the move reflects the party's long-standing stand on protecting Marathi language and culture. "Since Marathi was accorded Classical status, there were efforts by some to undermine its importance. We are not against Hindi," he said, "but you cannot keep it mandatory for such young kids. " He clarified that MNS does not oppose the existing three-language formula, under which Marathi is already compulsory. "Marathi is the official language of the state and must remain mandatory in schools," Bhandarkar added. He noted that the issue could have electoral implications. "This issue will impact elections too. In local body polls, people connect with local issues. And our Marathi pride, our language is one of these issues. People will remember who stood up for Marathi and who tried to sideline it," Bhandarkar said. The controversy took a decisive turn on Sunday evening when CM Devendra Fadnavis announced cancellation of the GR at an event in Mumbai. The state govt also constituted a committee to re-examine the three-language policy framework. On Monday, Raj Thackeray addressed the media and reiterated that he would not allow language imposition on Maharashtra. He said that a planned protest march scheduled for July 5 would now be celebrated as a 'victory rally' following the govt withdrawing the GR.
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Nagpur ZP retired teachers accuse authorities of delaying pensions
Nagpur: Retired teachers have accused the Nagpur Zilla Parishad (ZP) of delaying payments under the Maharashtra State Government Employees Group Insurance Scheme , 1982, for over five years. The scheme, which was implemented in 1990 for ZP employees and teachers, has become a point of contention due to sudden demands for arrears with compound scheme classifies employees into four groups (A to D) based on their pay scales, with monthly deductions ranging from ₹30 to ₹480. Despite regular deductions from 1990 to 2025 for various teaching positions, the ZP has failed to release the final insurance payouts to hundreds of retired educators, claimed a teachers' association."The situation worsened when the ZP's chief accounts and finance officer instructed block education officers across 13 panchayat samitis to recover arrears from retired teachers, including 12% compound interest calculated over 25 to 30 years. The amounts being demanded range from ₹4,000 to ₹50,000, causing distress among retirees," said Sharad Bhandarkar, general secretary of the MNS Shikshak Shikshak questioned how such an oversight could occur over three decades, especially when salary processing was done through computerized systems with proper departmental approvals. Bhandarkar also claimed that around 400 retired teachers are awaiting gratuity and pension payments totaling approximately ₹60 affected teachers are demanding an investigation into the ZP's administrative departments. Bhandarkar has called for verification of actual records before calculating arrears and suggested adjusting legitimate dues from insurance payouts without applying interest. He also warned that protests would be launched if their demands were not addressed promptly. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Mother's Day wishes , messages , and quotes !
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
MNS Teachers' Wing Slams Govt Over Delay in Benefits for Retired ZP Staff
Nagpur: Maharashtra Navnirman Shikshak Sena , the teachers' wing of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), has strongly criticised the state government for delaying financial benefits to retired Zilla Parishad (ZP) employees, particularly teachers. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "The government is releasing funds for new schemes like Ladki Bahin, but retired employees are still waiting for their gratuity and other emoluments," said Sharad Bhandarkar, state secretary of the organisation. He questioned the priorities of the administration, stating, "When we speak to ZP authorities, they cite a fund crunch. Does this mean funds are available for new schemes like Ladki Bahin, but not for those who served the system for decades and now depend on pensions for survival?" Bhandarkar further pointed out that even the courts have ruled that all post-retirement benefits must be disbursed within one month of an employee's retirement.
