Maharashtra Non-Teaching Staff Protest Demands Immediate Recruitment, Warn of Board Exam Boycott

Pune, 18th November 2025: Demanding the immediate commencement of the recruitment process for non-teaching staff, the State Federation of Secondary School Non-Teaching Associations warned on Monday, November 17, that they would boycott SSC and HSC board examination duties as well as election-related work if the administration continues to ignore their demands.

Hundreds of non-teaching staff from secondary schools across Maharashtra marched from Shaniwarwada to the Education Commissioner’s Office, pressing the state government to address long-pending service and recruitment issues. Organized by the State Federation of Secondary School Non-Teaching Associations, the protest saw strong participation from office-bearers and employees of various unions.

The march was led by union leader Shivaji Khandekar and included participation from Pune Division Teachers’ MLA Jayant Asgaonkar, Federation President Anil Mane, Working President Moreshwar Vasekar, Unaided Action Committee’s Khanderao Jagdale, Headmasters Association’s Harishchandra Gaikwad, and Teachers’ Democratic Front’s Shivaji Kamathe, among others. A delegation submitted a memorandum of demands to Education Commissioner Sachindra Pratap Singh.

The unions alleged that while the government has granted approval for non-teaching staff recruitment, the process has yet to begin. They demanded an immediate start to recruitment, implementation of pay fixation benefits for Class IV employees completing 24 years of service, and a decision on the new Career Advancement Scheme. They also sought promotional pay scales for non-teaching employees eligible for teaching posts and opposed any downgrading of posts or pay scales for surplus staff.

Khandekar cautioned the state government against testing the patience of employees, stating, “If the administration continues to neglect our demands, the agitation will intensify.”