Students, parents stage sit-in demanding relocation of Matric exam in Mayurbhanj 

Several students and their parents on Monday staged a demonstration in front of Karanjia Sub-Collector office in Mayurbhanj, demanding relocation of their centre for Matric examination. 

The Board of Secondary Education, Odisha had earlier announced that students would appear for the board examination at their own schools or nearby schools. But in a deviation from the direction, the centre for around 50 students of Kamaladevi High School at Jamuti village in Karanjia sub-division has been set up at Kumida village, 14 kilometres from Jamuti. 

The parents of the students alleged that the road to Kumida village is in a pathetic state which is why vehicles are not plying on the route.

“Our children are worried about their centre these days, resulting in less concentration on study. We demand the centre be relocated to a place nearer to Kamaladevi High School or be made at the school itself,” a parent said. 

Earlier, the worried students had staged a demonstration at the school and locked up the school gate demanding relocation of their centre to a nearer place. With the administration turning a deaf ear to their demand, the students and their parents staged a sit-in at the Sub-Collector office today. 

Registering her dissatisfaction, an agitating student Barsharani Das said, “As per the government direction, the centre for the Matric examination should at least be 3-4 kilometres away from a school. In our case, the centre is situated as long as 14 kilometres away from our school. Due to poor road condition, vehicles are also not plying on the route. So, we demand our centre should be changed to a place near our school.”

No reactions from the block education officer (BEO) or the district administration have been received as yet.