Mumbai, Dec. 6 -- Over 2,500 schools in the state remained closed on Friday as teachers' organisations held protests across Maharashtra. Several unions staged demonstrations in major cities, while the response in the city was minimal, with only nine schools in Mumbai division being shut. Around 15 organisations came together to oppose issues such as the compulsory Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) and the new Sanch Manyata rules, which govern teacher approval and recruitment. Around 13,216 teachers across the state were on leave without permission, of whom 767 were from Mumbai division, according to the education department. The state school education department had, on March 15, 2024, issued a government resolution (GR) notifying the Sanch Manyata policy, which introduced group recognition of schools and barred allocation of teachers to schools with fewer than 20 students. In Mumbai, Shikshak Bharati, led by Subhash More and former MLC Kapil Patil, held a protest at Charni Road outside the deputy director's office. Another group, Shikshak Sena, organised a demonstration at Chembur led by MLC JM Abhyankar and working president of the organisation, Jalindar Sarode. Sarode said the protestors had put forward five main demands. These included cancelling the government decision of March 15, withdrawing the TET requirement, lifting the ban on non-teaching staff recruitment, releasing non-salary grants as per code, and restoring the old pension scheme for all employees. Across districts, local organisations gathered outside collectors' offices to express their anger over the policies. Vijay Kombe, president of the Maharashtra Rajya Prathamik Shikshak Samiti, said, "The rule is unfair and the compulsory TET for teachers nearing retirement is another major concern." In Jogeshwari, Tanaji Kambale, president of the Maharashtra Progressive Teachers Union, said, "Mandatory exams are unnecessary when experienced teachers have a proven record." School education minister Dada Bhuse said, "We are consulting with the law and judiciary department for a TET review petition."...