Nearly 1.8 lakh teachers in Maharashtra observed a day-long strike on Friday (December 5, 2025), affecting over 95% of Zilla Parishad schools, 60% of municipal schools, and 75% of private aided schools. Many schools remained closed.
According to the state’s teachers’ unions, the protest is being coordinated by 35 unions representing primary and secondary teachers as well as non-teaching staff across the state.
Bhau Chaskar, convener of the Active Teachers Forum and a teacher at the Zilla Parishad School in Ahilyanagar (Akole block), said the agitation was widespread even in areas where the election code of conduct was not in force.
He said, “Parent associations also joined us in some places. The core issue is professional dignity — after completing D.Ed. and B.Ed., teachers face arbitrary changes in standards. The government must amend the Right to Education Act and withdraw regressive policies.”
Massive agitation against TET mandatory in Maharashtra – school closures and widespread protests
Teachers’ organizations across Maharashtra have launched a vigorous movement against the decision to make the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) mandatory.
This has directly impacted schools, with thousands of students missing classes in several districts. Schools remained closed, and studies were disrupted.
What is the controversy?
The state government, under Supreme Court directives, has made the TET mandatory for all teachers. Many teachers already employed are protesting this move.
They say that re-examination after several years of appointment is not feasible Making exams compulsory is unfair and demeaning.
Thousands of schools remained closed
Schools in several districts across the state closed in support of the movement. In many places, teachers held peaceful demonstrations outside schools with banners and posters.
- In many districts, teaching operations were completely halted.
- Parents and students faced difficulties due to this sudden school closure.
The main demands of the teachers
- The TET requirement should be abolished, especially for those teachers who were appointed through a regular process years ago.
- The increasing non-academic work on teachers should be reduced.
- New policies and sanction norms should be improved so that small schools and rural education are not affected.
- The process of regular recruitment should be expedited and the temporary/contract system should be reduced.
Knowledge and education
Jagat Guru Tatvdarshi Saint Rampal Ji Maharaj emphasizes that true knowledge is that which—
It makes humans moral, honest, and non-violent.
It promotes harmony, justice, and brotherhood in society.
It leads individuals to true devotion and brings peace and wisdom into their lives.
Conclusion
The current movement is not just about opposing a single exam (TET), but about Maharashtra’s education system, teachers’ rights, job stability, and future well-being. With thousands of schools closed, disrupted learning, and rising insecurity among teachers, this has become a major education sector dispute.
FAQs: Maharashtra News: Massive protest by teachers against compulsory TET in Maharashtra, thousands of schools closed
Q: Which categories of teachers were involved in the movement?
A: Many teachers from primary and secondary schools participated.
Q: What forms did the protest take?
A: Teachers held large-scale rallies, sit-ins, and demonstrations.
Q: What is the purpose of the TET exam?
A: To evaluate teachers’ qualifications and teaching ability.
Q: What was the impact of the movement?
A: Thousands of schools were closed for a day, disrupting students’ studies.
