Sports Teachers Announce Indefinite Protest Over Delayed Recruitment in Maharashtra
Pune, 4th July 2026: Citing years of delay in the recruitment of physical education teachers, the Maharashtra State Youth Physical Education Teachers Federation has announced an indefinite sit-in protest at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan from July 8, demanding that the state government immediately begin the long-pending recruitment process through the Pavitra Portal.
The federation said the prolonged delay has left thousands of qualified B.P.Ed. and M.P.Ed. graduates unemployed, while students across Maharashtra are being deprived of regular physical education classes. According to the organisation, the shortage of sports teachers is affecting the overall physical, mental and personality development of students.
Federation president Sandeep Manore and secretary Tayyappa Shendge alleged that despite the importance of physical education in the school curriculum, recruitment for sports teachers has remained neglected for nearly two decades. They said the issue has not only impacted aspiring teachers but has also weakened sports education in government and aided schools.
“The state government must immediately announce the service rules and recruitment process for physical education teachers. Thousands of qualified candidates have been waiting for years, while students continue to suffer due to the shortage of trained sports educators,” said Sandeep Manore, President of the Maharashtra State Youth Physical Education Teachers Federation.
Secretary Tayyappa Shendge said the federation had decided to intensify its agitation after repeated demands failed to yield results. “The government should implement the recruitment process through the Pavitra Portal without any further delay and fill all vacant posts as per the existing government resolutions,” he said.
Key Demands
The federation has placed the following demands before the state government:
Immediate publication of service rules and service conditions for physical education teachers, followed by the recruitment process.
Recruitment of 4,860 physical education teachers in the first phase through the Pavitra Portal, in accordance with the Government Resolution issued in January 2026.
Vacant physical education teacher posts should not be adjusted with teachers from other subjects.
All existing vacant sports teacher posts in schools should be filled through the Pavitra Portal.
The organisation has warned that unless the government initiates concrete action, the indefinite protest beginning on July 8 at Azad Maidan will continue until their demands are addressed. The federation maintains that timely recruitment is essential not only for providing employment to qualified candidates but also for strengthening sports education and promoting the overall development of students across Maharashtra.
