Students protest teachers’ transfer from Cuttack school, lock main gate

Students and parents of Kukudanga Government High School in Cuttack district's Salepur block locked the school's main gate on Wednesday, protesting the transfer of two teachers.

With classes already under strain, the move has triggered outrage and demands for reversal.

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According to sources, a wave of protest swept through Kukudanga High School in Salepur block, after two out of five teachers were transferred despite an already depleted teaching staff. With major subjects left untaught, both students and guardians united in protest.

The school’s main gate was locked by parents, halting classes entirely. Students launched a peaceful Dharna (sit-in) inside the campus, demanding that the State government reverse the transfer orders to ensure the continuance of proper education.

“We barely have teachers, and now two more are gone. How will our children study?” asked some agitated parents. Others echoed the sentiment, vowing to continue the protest until the issue is resolved.

In response, the District Education Officer (DEO) assured that immediate steps will be taken to address the teacher shortage and restore normalcy in the school.

The incident has highlighted the acute staffing crisis in rural government schools and the urgent need for balanced teacher deployment policies.

“I had a discussion with them (the agitating parents). I asked them, ‘If they (the teachers) have been transferred, you relieve them’. If the school has a requirement (teacher crunch), arrangements will be made accordingly,” Cuttack DEO, Nityananda Barik, stated.

“The matter is under process; hence, there is no problem in it. Let them obey the order, and as per their requirement, the vacancy will be filled up,” the DEO added.