Deogarh: An Upper Primary School has remained closed for the last two days as its students have been sitting on dharna demanding appointment of adequate number of teachers in Odisha’s Deogarh district.
The Upper Primary School at Malehipada under Riamal block of the district has 152 students on its roll. But 4 teachers have been appointed in the school take Classes I to VII. As a result, the teachers are unable to take the classes of all subjects regularly, affecting the studies of the students.
The school authorities said though they have apprised the officials of Education department several times, no fresh appointment of teachers has been made so far. “Since there are only 4 teachers, the students of Classes I to III are told to sit in one room and the teachers are taking all the classes. As a result, neither the teachers are able to impart teaching properly nor the students can understand their subjects clearly,” said school headmaster Sadanand Sahu.
He further said they have informed the block education officer regarding the problems which are affecting the students’ studies, but there has been no response so far.
In order to draw the attention of the authorities, the students of the school along with the headmaster and members of the management committee sat on a dharna on Tuesday. They have also locked up the school gate and said the agitation would continue till adequate number of teachers are not appointed.
The authorities of Education department said they have been informed about the teacher vacancies in the school and necessary steps would be taken in this regard soon. “We are aware of the school students’ dharna demanding more teachers. The district education officer has been apprised of the problem. We will also draw the attention of higher authorities of the department for appointment of at least two more teachers in the school,” said assistant block education officer (ABEO) Umakanta Pradhan.
