Rajasthan: Students, Villagers Lock Alwar School Over Unsafe Building, Teacher Shortage
Education department officials say the protest started at about 7 am and ended at 6 pm on Thursday. The agitation came in wake of an incident on Wednesday in which a roof slab at one of the buildings of the school was broken.
Alwar: After lack of teachers and the poor condition of buildings in the school, students and villagers on Thursday locked the government higher secondary school in Jodhwas village in Alwar district of the state of Rajasthan over its inadequate facilities, officials said.
When was the protest?
Education department officials say the protest started at about 7 am and ended at 6 pm on Thursday. The agitation came in wake of an incident on Wednesday in which a roof slab at one of the buildings of the school was broken. At that time, there were no students there, villagers said.
Five out of the six sanctioned senior teacher posts at the school are lying vacant, the protesters said. They also claimed that two school buildings have already been declared unsafe but are yet to be demolished.
How many students are there in the school?
The state of the school has been a concern to the students and villagers especially regarding the lack of classrooms. They said 174 students are enrolled at the school, but there are only three classrooms available for them.
The protesters further stated that during the rainy season, the roof of classrooms allow the water to drip through, making the condition of the school premises even worse.
Villagers reported that the school had been upgraded to higher secondary level four years ago, but the posts of the lecturers have not been sanctioned yet.
Did authorities talk with the protesters?
Additional Chief Block Education Officer Gaurav Addania and Chief Block Education Officer Shakuntala Yadav reached the school and tried to persuade the protesters to call off the agitation. But the students and villagers were adamant on their demand.
The Chief District Education Officer, Mahesh Gupta and Additional District Education Officer, Gajraj also reached the site and discussed with the protesters.
According to Gupta, 7 teachers were temporarily hired at the school to fill in the teachers' shortage. He added that the Additional District Project Coordinator (Samagra Shiksha) had been sent a proposal in respect to the school building.
Students and villagers have called for immediate demolition of the dilapidated buildings and filling up of vacant teacher posts.
