Bhubaneswar, March 15: The agitating teachers and employees of the 1,982 block grant schools and 327 eligible high schools today rejected the state cabinet’s approval of the new grants-in-aid policy.

They said they would continue their agitation.

The cabinet last night approved the new grants-in-aid policy aimed to abolish the previous block grant policy.

Sources said the new policy stated schools getting block grant for more than eight years would be eligible for a full grants-in-aid and be paid as per the sixth pay commission. Similarly, schools that have been receiving grants for over six years will be eligible for 75 per cent grants-in-aid. Schools receiving grants-in-aid for more than three years will receive 60 per cent grants-in-aid.

The remaining block grant schools would receive 40 per cent aid.

School and mass education minister Rabi Narayan Nanda, however, refused to provide details of the policy as it was to be announced first in the Assembly. However, the matter could not be discussed in the Assembly today, as it was adjourned.

The teachers alleged that they were kept in dark about the new grants-in-aid policy.

“We are still not clear what the policy is all about. The teachers have been kept in the dark. It is strange that the government did not include us in such an important decision involving so many teachers,” said Prashanta Mohapatra, president, Block Grant Secondary School Teachers And Employees’ Association.

Mohapatra said the government was simply trying to “dilute” the issue and divide the teachers in a “tactful manner”. “The only demand we have is the abolition of the block grant system with provision of 100 per cent grants-in-aid to all the 1,982 block grant school and 327 eligible high schools,” said a teacher.

“The new policy also does not talk of dearness allowance, pension or service conditions. We will not withdraw our strike,” he said

Earlier, the teachers had rejected the state government’s decision to go for a performance–based grant system. Arguing why teachers alone were being subjected to “performance measurement”, they had termed the decision “undemocratic”. The teachers, who had earlier boycotted invigilation during the matric exams, threatened to quit the evaluation process scheduled to begin on March 17.

The teachers said they would picket outside the 74 evaluation centres across the state and ask other teachers not to conduct evaluation. They said they would conduct a candlelight rally at the Puri Srimandir, and on March 18, stage a demonstration outside the Assembly. They would seek the co-operation of students and parents.