Jajpir: “We don’t have a teacher. We have written whatever we know. Kindly don’t expect too much from us,” read the answer sheet of a Class IX student, who resorted to this unique protest against the absence of a Sanskrit teacher at PC Brahmachari High School in Odisha’s Jajpur district.
The answer sheets has gone viral on various social media platforms.
At least 95 students took the Sanskrit test on Saturday as part of their half-yearly examination and alleged that they were asked to cheat during the exam.
According to sources, no class on Sanskrit had been conducted in the school in the last five months for lack of teacher in the subject in the subject. A student said that they have not been taught Sanskrit since the commencement of classes. The students and their parents have demanded appointment of a Sanskrit teacher before the annual examinations.
School headmistress Sanjukta Dei told the media that the classes could not be conducted as the Sanskrit teacher was transferred to Kuanpur High School some time back. “We conducted the examination as per schedule. The local Sarpanch and school managing committee members had earlier met the Collector and other officials concerned regarding the issue,” she added.
Sources further said that the Sanskrit teacher and a trained graduate teacher of the high school were transferred to other schools over administrative reasons six months back. The school reopened in June this year and since then, classes in Sanskrit, History and Geography have not been held.
A guardian also alleged that the school has been transformed under the Odisha government’s ambitious 5T project but there are no teachers for History, Geography, and Sanskrit. “The Class X students would appear for board exams in three months, what do you expect them to write?” she questioned.
Pleading ignorance, Jajpur DEO Nibedita Pani said that she would conduct an inquiry into the matter.
