BHUBANESWAR: In the wake of the absence of around 40,000 teachers and employees of unaided schools and colleges who are on strike the state government may face problem in smooth conduct of the ensuing annual matric and plus two exams. Several rounds of discussions between agitating teachers and government over their demand to withdraw controversial affidavit remained inconclusive leading to tension among parents and students. However, the state government on Saturday assured the parents and students that government is ready to conduct smooth examination despite the teachers' strike."Due to the code of conduct government is not unable to take several important decisions. Government is all prepared for smooth conduct of board exams. Whether the teachers will join or nor exams will be held on time without any problem," said higher education minister Anant Das The school and mass education department has asked district collectors to remain alert for hassle-free examinations. "If required we can engage teachers from degree colleges and teacher education institutes, and teachers and employees of primary schools for smooth conduct of the examinations. Both class X and plus two examinations will be held as per the schedule," said school and mass education secretary Pradipta Mohapatra Around 5.90 lakh students will appear annual matriculation examination in the state on February 23 and as many as 3.2 lakh students will appear the final plus two examinations scheduled on March 6.Despite the state government's announcement to withdraw the compulsory submission of an affidavit to avail gran-in-aid facilities, the agitating teachers are adamant on issuing of a notification in this regard."We don't trust the government. Instead of issuing a press release from the chief minister's office we demand a gazetted notification. Earlier also we have received several such assurances but later the government did not abide by it," said convenor of the All Odisha School, College, Teachers' and Employees' Forum, Prakash Chandra Mohanty . The forum has planned a huge demonstration in the capital city on February 19."The government may conduct the examination but certainly it is not going to be smooth in the absence of 40,000 teachers and employees. And if there will be any problem during the examination, the government will be solely responsible for the mismanagement," Mohanty added.

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