School students lock gate, stage dharna over teacher shortage | Bhubaneswar News

Kendrapada: Students of the 79-year-old Dharmasala Bani Pitha High School in Jajpur district on Friday staged a protest locking the school’s main gate and staging a dharna demanding immediate appointment of teachers.The govt-run school established in 1947 has been functioning with 10 teachers for over a month against a sanctioned strength of 16. The shortage has hit academic activities for its 508 students from Classes I to X, leading to the agitation.Hundreds of students assembled at the entrance, raised slogans alleging official apathy and demanded that all vacant posts be filled without delay. “We have only 10 teachers to teach more than 500 students. The sanctioned strength is 16. Our studies are suffering,” said Class IX student Rohul Jena.Class IX student Anita Das said the continued shortage was affecting the quality of education and students’ future prospects. “Despite repeated requests, no action has been taken. We are left with no option but to protest,” she said. A Class VII student said the agitation would continue if the issue was not addressed.Headmaster Basudev Roul said the crisis began after three teachers were promoted as headmasters and relieved last month. Two others resigned after getting other jobs, while one was transferred. “We have requested the district education officer to appoint teachers at the earliest so that normal academic activities can continue,” Roul said.Dr Basudev Das, a retired headmaster, said vacancies in govt schools were hurting education standards and fuelling the growth of English-medium private schools in rural areas. “The govt should fill all vacant teaching posts without delay,” he said.Block education officer Abhaya Behera said officials reached the school after getting information about the protest. “Students locked the main gate demanding more teachers. We assessed the situation. Necessary steps will be taken, and the vacant posts will be filled soon,” he said.