Odisha school students walk to Collector’s office over teacher shortage

Fed up with the administration's apathy, some 300 students of Subarnarekha Project High School on the outskirts of Baripada city in Mayurbhanj district embarked on a strenuous journey of walking to the district Collector’s office on Monday. 

While the students were going to the Collector’s office to press for their demand for teachers, they were stopped midway by the Sub Collector, the tehsildar and other officials. After much persuasion, the miffed students returned to their school. 

Sources said Subarnarekha Project High School has over 300 students studying in Class I to X. Surprisingly enough, there are only three teachers who are managing the show. The villagers, parents and students had taken up the teacher shortage issue with the district administration on several occasions. However, it is alleged that nothing had been done to fill up the vacant teacher posts. 

With no option left, the students today decided to walk to the district Collector’s office. On being informed, the Sub Collector, the tehsildar, additional SP and officers of the education department rushed to the spot and stopped the students on the road. 

Upon learning about their demand, the officials managed to pacify the students and persuade them to return to their school. 

“I am a Class X student. The teacher shortage has affected our studies. While our examination is approaching, our syllabus is not complete,” rued a student. 

“There are three to four teachers in our school. So our study has been neglected. Our FA 1 examination is coming. If the syllabus is not completed before the examination, what will be our results?” said a girl student.