Bhubaneswar: The state government on Friday said that it was open to discussion with protesting block grant teachers.

"Discussion is the best way to reach a solution as there is no point in putting the future of students at stake. It is necessary to give importance to evaluation now and we can sort out the issue soon after," said school and mass education minister Badri Patra.

The teachers under the aegis of All Odisha School-College Teachers' and Employees' United Forum have been continuing their agitation to force the government to issue a notification regarding withdrawal of the affidavit clause prescribed in the Grant-in-Aid (GIA) Policy-2017, along with fulfilment of six other demands. Patra said the evaluation was on and results would be out on time.

Despite various steps taken by the state government, including issuing threats of suspension, threatening to lodge FIR and clamping prohibitory orders under section 144 in front of evaluation centres, the agitators continue with their strike that entered the 10th day on Friday.

"The second phase of evaluation is yet to begin. If the government pays heed to our needs and takes a decision at the earliest, we are ready to join the process," said Golak Nayak, convener of the forum.

A protester said that those who are not eligible to check Plus Two papers were doing it. He said that teachers of boarding centres and universities who checking the papers.

Refuting the allegation, deputy examination controller, Council of Higher Secondary Education, Prabodh Kumar Panda, said: "Only eligible teachers have been involved in the process."

The state government has come up with a fresh notification asking examiners to evaluate 20 answer sheets instead of 15 every day. "The new directive, though aimed at completion of the evaluation of Plus Two answer copies on time, has created apprehension whether the process will be free from error," said educator Surashree Jena.