Teacher crunch hits Dhenkanal school; students lock gate seeking teachers’ appointment

Education has taken a backseat at Sogarapasi Upper Primary School in Dhenkanal for last six days owing to shortage of teachers. 

Expressing discontent over the district administration’s delay in recruiting teachers, students and their parents staged a dharna and locked the school on Saturday seeking immediate recruitment of teachers, said sources. 

As many as 98 students from Class I to Class VIII study in the school. However, there are only four teachers to teach students. Earlier, five teachers were there. Recently, one teacher has got transferred to a nearby school. As a result, existing teachers are finding it hard to provide quality education to students, alleged villagers.

Upset students and their parents meanwhile have drawn the attention of District Education Officer in this regard.

Brajabandhu Jena, a parent, said, “We will continue our stir till the district administration does not come up with a solution. Besides, we want reappointment of that particular teacher who has been transferred.”

Swadhin, a student, said, “Earlier, we had five teachers. Now, four teachers are there to teach us. One has been transferred to Durgaprasad School. We are demanding to appoint one more teacher for smooth conduct of classes.”

Another student, Prachi, said, “Due to shortage of teachers our study has been hampered badly. That’s why we have launched agitation. Earlier, we agitated by sitting on school veranda. But the district administration did not pay heed to the issue. That’s why we took to street to draw the attention of administration.”

Jitendra Prusty, one of the teachers of the school, said “The school has 98 students. Earlier, there were no issues in the school pertaining to teaching. After transfer of a lady teacher, education has been badly affected. Villagers and School Management Committee members have locked the school gate and staged protest.”

Reported by Rajashree Satpathy, OTV