-- Samir Umarye BICHOLIM Aug 16: Around 200 students of a Bicholim School went on strike demanding for a teacher. School students of a state which boasts of highest literacy rate have to come to the streets to demand for a teacher is an irony of sorts!
Students of Government High School Kudchirem boycotted their classes on Monday to protest against the lackadaisical attitude of the authorities in providing them a teacher and other basic facilities. The agitating students demanded that an English teacher be appointed at the earliest and that the dilapidated school building be repaired as early as possible. The students have determined to continue the agitation till their demands are fulfilled. It is pertinent to note that the examination for the English paper was not held as there is no English teacher. It may be recalled that the government high school Kudchirem is facing acute problems as the students do not have their own school building due to which classes are conducted in the premises of primary school building, the strength of the teachers to accommodate around 200 students from std. Vth to Xth is also low, the school has no mathematics, history and English teacher. The examination for the English subject was also not held as there is no teacher to teach English. There are only nine teachers for this school who are striving hard to make the students learn however, the adjustment becomes very difficult. “The education department was informed about the existing state of affairs time and again but in vain, due to which students were compelled to take this step” said the PTA president Sawlo Gaonkar. One of the parent Kishore Gaonkar also accused the education department for the rural students from getting educational facilities. The students today shunted slogans like “appoint required teachers”, “provide basic educational facilities” etc there by expressing total concerned over the attitude of education department. Meanwhile, opposition leader Manohar Parrikar who was informed about this issue by the school PTA has assured to brought this matter before the director of education. At present there are 15 students for SSC who are likely to face acute problems before facing their examination. It is understood that the students have to go to government high school Kerim which is 15 k.m.s from Kudchirem to attend computer classes which are not conducted in this school due to entering of roof water into classroom. Some classes are also conducted in the adjacent old house to accommodate the students. Students and parents have therefore strongly demanded the education department to look into the matter as early as possible to safeguard their future.(dg)