Bhubaneswar Unit 9 Girl's High School merger plan faces stiff opposition from students

Tension ran high outside the Unit 9 Government Girl's High School in Bhubaneswar after students along with their guardians staged a dharna protesting the proposed merger of the school with nearby Government Boy's High School.

Angry over the decision, the students staged a walkout of the class and locked the main door of the school before staging a sit-in along with their parents.

Established in 1967, the school imparts education to over 500 girl students, sources said.

“We are not going to leave our school. Why should our school be merged with the boy’s high school? If they cannot merge Ramadevi Women’s University with BJB College, then they must not do this with our school,” a protesting student said.

Echoing the same, another student said, “Since Class 6, I am studying here. Why should I leave my school? In the coeducation system, boys will get more priority than girls. So, we do not want any merger.” 

“Earlier, former School and Mass Education Minister Samir Ranjan Dash visited the school and had said there is enough space to open classes for Plus 2 courses. Let the school be there. But, after Sudam Marndi took over the charge, a new decision has been taken. This is a very old school and students from Baranga, Balianta and Tankapani Road come to study here,” said an agitating parent.

Commenting on the development, Pragyan Paramita Jena, Block Education Officer (BEO), who visited the spot, said, “It is a proposal which is yet to be executed. I met the protesting students and urged them to attend the class by withdrawing from the protest. I will communicate the grievances of the students to the concerned authorities immediately.”