Chhattisgarh teachers begin protest against rationalisation, govt claims 80% drop in single-teacher schools

Chhattisgarh Shikshak Sanjha Manch is protesting against the state's teacher rationalisation policy, alleging the removal of 46,000 teaching posts
RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarh Shikshak Sanjha Manch (CSSM) has launched a statewide protest against the state government's teacher rationalisation policy, alleging the removal of over 46,000 teaching posts.
The agitation began on Monday with black armband demonstrations and parent outreach, and will culminate in a major protest on Teachers' Day, 5 September.
The CSSM, a joint forum of teachers, announced an intensified agitation against the state's rationalisation policy following a review meeting on 14 June. State convener Virendra Dubey said the forum is planning a structured protest, including a large-scale demonstration on
Teachers' Day
.
On Monday, as schools reopened after the summer vacation, teachers across Chhattisgarh wore black armbands to protest against the policy.
The forum urged all teachers in the state to participate in the upcoming protests. The plan includes the following stages:
16–30 June:
Teachers will wear black armbands to mark their protest.
16–20 June:
Members of the forum will reach out to parents, informing them about the flaws in the rationalisation process and the alleged reduction in teaching positions, seeking their support.
Affected teachers will submit applications to the Directorate of Public Instruction (DPI) and the Education Secretary, either in person or by post. Copies will be shared with block, district, divisional, or state conveners.
20 June:
Applications will be sent to the Chief Justice of India by affected teachers.
30 June:
Demand letters will be sent to the Prime Minister by forum office-bearers and affected teachers.
A memorandum detailing the discrepancies will be submitted to the DPI and the Education Secretary.
1 July:
Teachers will go on a one-day strike and stage protests at 146 block headquarters across the state.
5 September:
A major state-level protest will be held on Teachers' Day.
Govt Claims Rationalisation Boosted School Staffing
Meanwhile, the Chhattisgarh government has defended the rationalisation move, stating it has improved teacher deployment across the state.
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According to the government, the number of single-teacher schools has been reduced by 80%, and no school is left without staff, particularly in remote areas.
A government spokesperson said the transformation was possible due to rationalisation, which focused on equitable distribution of resources, logical teacher deployment, and postings in line with the Right to Education Act and the New Education Policy.
Previously, 453 schools in the state had no teachers, and 5,936 schools had only one teacher.
This problem was especially serious in remote and sensitive districts like Sukma, Narayanpur, and Bijapur.
To address the issue, a three-phase counselling process was held at the district, divisional, and state levels. As a result, all high schools now have the minimum required teaching staff, and no school is left without a teacher.
Chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai has said that improving single-teacher schools is a key government priority.
Additional teachers will be appointed through promotions and new recruitments in the coming months.
The state is now focusing on 1,207 primary schools that still have only one teacher. Plans are in place to prioritise promotions, postings, and recruitment to improve staffing.
Of these schools, Bastar has 283, Bijapur 250, Sukma 186, Mohla-Manpur-Chowki 124, Korba 89, Balrampur 94, Narayanpur 64, Dhamtari 37, Surajpur 47, Dantewada 11, while other districts have a total of 22 such schools. The government said teachers will be deployed to these schools based on need.

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