Nine months and still waiting

More than ten thousand selected teacher candidates in Madhya Pradesh have run out of patience. It has been roughly nine months since the merit list for secondary and primary school teachers was released. But appointment letters? Still not issued.

On Wednesday, a substantial crowd of these aspirants gathered outside the Directorate of Public Instruction (DPI) in Bhopal. Under a harsh summer sun, they staged a sit-in demonstration, demanding that the recruitment process be completed without further delays. Officials from the directorate watched from behind barricades as the protest swelled through the afternoon.

Selection list out, no joining in sight

The recruitment process began back in 2022. Eligibility tests were held in 2023, followed by the selection examination in April 2025. After a drawn-out procedure, the results were declared in September 2025, and the final selection list was published. That was nearly three fiscal quarters ago.

According to the candidates, the examination conduct rulebook – specifically section 3.28 – makes it mandatory to issue appointment orders within three months of releasing the selection list. That deadline passed long ago. “We have crossed eight, almost nine months now,” said a candidate from Vidisha, declining to be named. “There is no court stay. No legal hurdle. So why are we still waiting?”

‘Broken promises and endless assurances’

This isn’t the first time these candidates have taken to the streets. Between November 2025 and April 2026, aspirants made multiple trips to Bhopal, meeting departmental officers. Each time, they were sent back with verbal assurances. In March, officials reportedly said choice filing would begin soon. Then came word that joining might start in April. Neither happened.

The candidates’ core demand is simple: release the eligibility lists, complete the choice filing process, and issue appointment orders. “We are not asking for anything extra. Just what is already written in the rulebook,” said Dheerendra Chaurasia, one of the aspirants who has been following the matter closely.

Over 10,700 lives caught in limbo

The numbers tell a grim story. Nearly 10,700 selected candidates are directly affected. Many belong to farming families. Some run small tuition centres to make ends meet. A few have been surviving on odd jobs while waiting for this government job to materialise.

The new academic session began in April 2026 – but these teachers aren’t inside classrooms. Candidates point out that reports have repeatedly highlighted a severe shortage of teachers across the state. According to recent official data, nearly 1,895 schools in Madhya Pradesh do not have a single teacher on staff. Another 29,116 schools face a cumulative shortage of approximately 99,682 teachers. Rural areas are the worst hit, with only about 70 per cent of sanctioned posts filled.

“If schools are running without teachers, why delay our appointments?” asked Vivek Tiwari from Chhatarpur. His voice carried the weight of years. He said many selected candidates are now past 40 years of age. Personal lives are on hold – marriages, family planning, all deferred. “Some parents passed away waiting for their children to get this job. That is not an exaggeration. That is what has happened.”

What next? Agitation to escalate

Sources familiar with the matter said the DPI has acknowledged receipt of the memorandum submitted by the protesting group. However, no official statement or timeline has been issued yet.

Dinesh Thakur from Indore said all formalities – document verification, eligibility checks – are complete for most candidates. “The portal shows no update. We were told March, then April. Now April is also over. What do we tell our families?”

The candidates have made their position clear. If appointment orders are not issued within a reasonable timeframe now, they will scale up the agitation. “We have waited nine months. We cannot wait nine more,” said another protester as the evening crowd began to disperse. Bhopal’s police presence remained light, and no untoward incident was reported. But the simmering anger among these ten thousand aspirants is unlikely to fade unless the education department acts – and fast.