Mumbai, December 6, 2025
In a dramatic escalation of long-simmering grievances, teachers across Maharashtra brought the state's education system to a standstill on Friday, December 5, forcing the closure of over 25,000 government and aided schools. The statewide bandh, spearheaded by more than 30 teachers' unions, was a direct rebuke to the controversial "Sanch Manyata" policy, which unions claim threatens the livelihoods of thousands of educators and the very existence of rural schools. The action, coinciding with the policy's implementation deadline, underscored deep frustrations over staffing norms, mandatory certification tests, and broader educational reforms.
The strike, described by organizers as a "last resort to save government-aided education," saw mass absences, protest marches, and rallies in districts from Mumbai to Pune and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. In Pune, thousands of educators converged on the Zilla Parishad building before marching to the district collector's office, while similar demonstrations unfolded outside education department offices in Mumbai's Charni Road and Chembur areas. "This is not just about jobs—it's about denying our children quality education," said Vijay Kombe, president of the Maharashtra Rajya Prathamik Shikshak Samiti, one of the leading unions. Over 13,000 teachers in the Mumbai division alone took unauthorized leave, amplifying the shutdown's reach.
At the heart of the unrest is the Sanch Manyata (school recognition) policy, formalized through a government resolution on March 15, 2024. Under the new rules, teacher and staff approvals for aided and local-body schools are tied directly to student enrollment rather than the number of classes or grades—a shift from the previous system that guaranteed positions based on academic structure. Schools with fewer than 20 students risk receiving no dedicated teachers at all, a provision unions argue will devastate low-enrollment institutions in rural, tribal, and hilly regions. Critics, including leaders from Shikshak Bharati and the Maharashtra Progressive Teachers Union, warn that this could lead to the closure of nearly 18,000 aided schools and render 20,000 to 25,000 teachers and administrative staff redundant. Furthermore, the policy is accused of sidelining subject-specific teachers for Classes 9 and 10, potentially compromising curriculum delivery in under-resourced areas.
The protests also spotlighted the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET), enforced for educators recruited before 2013, including those nearing retirement. "Why burden experienced teachers with exams when they have decades of proven service?" questioned Tanaji Kambale, president of the Maharashtra Progressive Teachers Union. Unions like Shikshak Sena, led by MLC JM Abhyankar, have labeled the TET as "unfair and punitive," arguing it ignores practical expertise in favor of bureaucratic hurdles.
Organizers presented a five-point charter of demands, calling for the immediate annulment of the March 2024 resolution, withdrawal of the TET mandate, an end to the contractual "Shikshan Sevak" system, restoration of the old pension scheme, release of pending non-salary grants, exemption of schools from property taxes, and the installation of solar power in aided institutions. "These decisions affect not just staff but the future of our students," emphasized Subhash More of Shikshak Bharati, noting that school managements and principals had quietly supported the action despite threats of salary deductions from the education department.
The Maharashtra government, caught off-guard by the scale of the disruption, has signaled a willingness to engage. School Education Minister Dada Bhuse announced consultations with the law and judiciary departments on a potential TET review, while inviting suggestions from unions on refining the Sanch Manyata framework. However, no immediate concessions were offered, and district collectors were instructed to monitor the protests closely. As of Saturday, no arrests or major clashes were reported, though tensions lingered with vows of escalated action if demands go unmet.
The bandh's fallout extends beyond the classroom: parents in urban centers like Mumbai scrambled for alternatives, while rural families faced acute disruptions in already fragile educational access. With Maharashtra's school system serving millions, the strike has ignited a national debate on balancing fiscal efficiency with equitable education. As unions prepare for follow-up meetings with officials next week, educators remain resolute: "We teach the nation's future—we won't let it be compromised," declared Jalindar Sarode of Shikshak Sena.
This event marks the latest chapter in Maharashtra's turbulent education landscape, where policy overhauls have repeatedly clashed with on-ground realities. Whether Friday's shutdown prompts meaningful reform or deepens the divide remains to be seen.
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