Students block road protesting over irregular classes at school in Odisha's Keonjhar

Students of Jalsarpur High School under Hatadihi block in Keonjhar district of Odisha staged a protest on Saturday, alleging irregular classes and negligence by school staff. The protest led to the suspension of normal activities as students blocked the Jabinipur–Gedama road demanding immediate action from the authorities.

According to reports, the school was witnessing internal disputes among teachers and staff, affecting regular teaching. On Thursday, an altercation reportedly occurred between a lady teacher and a clerk within the school premises, which later reached the police station. Following the incident, students expressed frustration over continued disruptions to their studies.

Students Express Dissatisfaction

Agitated students claimed that the headmaster and a science teacher have not been attending school regularly. One of the students said, “Our science faculty, Rashmi Ranjan Das Mahapatra, never attends school consistently. He does not teach us properly. When we ask questions related to Science, he tells us to ask other subject teachers. Sometimes, he even asks us to perform a dance or buy products of a particular company, for which he collects money from us.”

Another student added, “The science teacher does not attend school regularly. When we raised the issue with the headmaster, he did not pay attention to our problem.”

Blockade Lifted After Assurances

The protesting students blocked the Jabinipur–Gedama road by burning tyres, demanding corrective measures and the resumption of regular classes. The blockade was lifted only after local officials assured them that necessary steps would be taken to address the issue.

No statement could be obtained from the school authorities at the time of reporting.