"Need jobs, not Rs 1,500": Teacher aspirants demand more posts, students raise concerns over schools in two separate protests in Bhopal

Protests in Bhopal highlight recruitment demands and school concerns

BHOPAL: Two separate protests were held in Bhopal on Sunday, one by teacher aspirants demanding an increase in posts under the Secondary and Primary Teacher Recruitment-2025, and another by the School Bachao Sangharsh Samiti Madhya Pradesh, which raised concerns about the condition of government schools and alleged closures.

Candidates from across Madhya Pradesh continued their protest for the third consecutive day, pressing for more Class 2 and Class 3 posts under the 2025 recruitment drive and an expedited recruitment process. Protester Narendra Rajput, who is on hunger strike, said he had given up even water and that his fast had entered its 40th hour.

"I have given up even water; it has been 40 hours. For nine months, we have been pressing a simple demand regarding recruitment quotas - asking that you not issue notifications for such a small number of vacancies. You are the government, yet you simply weren't grasping the situation. Madhya Pradesh wants change. The number of vacancies in every recruitment drive is abysmally low," Rajput said.

Another protester said the candidates were demanding an increase in vacancies for Class 2 and Class 3 positions and urged the State government to treat the additional posts as a "Raksha Bandhan gift."

"There are 25,000 vacant Class 3 posts, and we are demanding 3,000 posts per subject for Class 2. We want them to fulfil these demands and give us this Raksha Bandhan gift," the protester said.

Women participating in the protest said they do not need the government's monthly assistance of Rs 1,500, but want appointments and an increase in the number of posts so that they can support their families through their own earnings.

School Bachao Sangharsh Samiti protest

At Neelam Park, the School Bachao Sangharsh Samiti Madhya Pradesh held a separate protest attended by Gen Alpha and Gen Z students, teachers, and parents from different parts of the state. They raised concerns over the condition of government schools, alleged that more than 25,000 schools across Madhya Pradesh had been closed, and flagged issues related to the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET).

The School Bachao Andolan warned of intensifying the agitation and holding an indefinite sit-in if their demands are not addressed.

The protesters have urged the Madhya Pradesh government to increase the number of Class 2 and Class 3 posts and expedite the recruitment process.