Bhubaneswar: Members of the High School Health & Physical Education Teachers’ Association (HSHPETA) of Odisha staged a protest at Lower PMG Saturday, pressing the state government to fulfil their four-point charter of demands.
Their key demands include upgrading the minimum qualification for Physical Education Teachers (PETs) from +2 to Graduation (+3), introducing Health and Physical Education as a 100-mark subject (theory and practical) in the high school syllabus, granting PETs the Trained Graduate Teacher (TGT) pay scale, and ensuring their inclusion in the state cadre file.
HSHPETA leaders stressed that physical education is essential for holistic student development, promoting health, discipline, and a foundation for sports excellence at the grassroots level.
They lamented that PETs are often asked to teach subjects like English and Mathematics while being denied the chance to teach their own discipline.
Citing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and practices in other states, the association demanded the immediate introduction of physical education as a full-fledged 100-mark subject in Odisha’s high schools.
Protesters also highlighted disparities in qualifications and pay. While teachers of other subjects must hold a graduation degree, the minimum qualification for PETs remains +2, creating inequality despite PETs clearing OSSTET, completing professional training, and qualifying in Regular High School Teacher (RHT) recruitment exams.
HSHPETA called on the government to address these long-pending issues to ensure fair recognition, pay parity, and the promotion of physical education in the state’s education system.
PNN