Post News Network
Angul, Sept 16: As many as 20,000 students have become the sacrificial lambs with hundreds of schools in Angul district remaining closed for a month due to a tussle between the state government and teachers over abolition of block grant system.
Even a month has passed since the teachers launched the agitation, neither the government nor the teachers have shown any sign of relent and have refused to budge from their stand.
While the state government has adopted a tough posture, the teachers are equally adamant and have warned to continue with their stir till their demands are met.
On the other hand, the state government though aware of the situation has maintained a stoic silence on the issue. This has pushed the students into distress as they become the worst sufferers as well as the sacrificial lambs in the tug of war between the teachers and state government.
Sources said there are 79 block grant schools and 21 block grant awaiting schools in the district. All the schools had joined the stir in the beginning but later Indira Gandhi Girls’ High School, Jarasingha Girls High School under Banarpal block and Baneshwari High School at Khamar under Chhendipda block withdrew from the agitation.
The students are now whiling away their time at home after their schools were locked up due to agitation. Students of financially sound families are attending private tuitions while their lesser counterparts have remained confined to their homes or helping their parents in household works.
The abrupt closure of the schools during mid-session has seriously hit the classroom education in rural areas. This has posed serious uncertainty on their future as they are caught in the fight between the teachers and the state government.
A class-VII student Anita Dehuri said she is studying at home due to the agitation and will be under pressure to finish her course within a short period when the school reopens.
The teachers will try to finish the course in short time, which will pose serious problems for them during examinations. The schools should reopen at the earliest. A guardian Rajesh Nayak expressed similar concern on the future of his son. He said his dream for his son has shattered as the schools remained closed for over a month.
When contacted, convener Taranisen Sahu of School Teachers Federation of Orissa (STFO) said the agitation will continue till their demands are met. They will however intensify their agitation from September 21, which will continue till October 5. Teachers of all affiliated 83 schools will participate in the stir.
