Bhubaneswar: Education experts have expressed concern over the publication of this year's Plus Two results that is likely to be delayed because of the ongoing agitation of block grant teachers.

The ongoing tussle between the block grant teachers and the state government turned uglier after hundreds of students joined the teachers' agitation on Monday.

The students sat alongside the teachers as they staged a dharna in front of the evaluation centres and shouted slogans against the government for not fulfilling their charter of demands.

On Tuesday, parents' organisations also extended their support to the teachers' agitation. Many of them were seen showing their support and solidarity at a number of evaluation centres.

"Universities will announce dates according to their feasibility and the students will have to helplessly suffer under such circumstances," said Ajanta Satpathy, a teacher of chemistry at a Plus Two college in Khurda.

The students fear that the delay in the process would be a hindrance to the future admission process.

"Forms of most of universities are out and they require the marks of Plus Two. If the results are not announced by the second week of May, it will become very difficult for us to apply," said Shashank Behera, a Plus Two student.

Members of the Odisha Abhibhabak Mahasangha, the state-level parents' association of Class XII students, feel that the state government should come forward at the earliest to support the cause of the teachers.

Sudarshan Das, chairman of the mahasangha, said: "Their demands are valid and the state government should be lenient in their approach and take immediate remedial steps. The fate of thousands of students is at stake and there is need an urgent need to address their issues."

Around 60,000 block grant teachers and employees of schools and colleges of the state have been on indefinite strike since March 19.

Sources said the Council of Higher Secondary Education and the government would take action, including lodginf FIRs, against teachers who do not take part in the evaluation process.

The controller of examinations has issued instructions to evaluation zone supervisors to lodge FIRs against teachers who refuse to take part in evaluation and those who obstruct the work under sections 7, 8 and 9 of the Odisha Conduct of Examination Act, 1988.

Sources said only 50 per cent of teachers have joined the process till now.

The higher education department has assured to bring out the results on time. "We have put in place alternatives and results will be out on time," said higher education minister Anant Das