Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network–Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Jul 14: Primary school children from first to fifth standard at Kodapadi Government Junior Primary School in Gujjadi gram panchayat limits, on Thursday July 14 protested outside the school premises against the transfer of their favourite teacher.

Children shouted slogans against the transfer and pleaded school authorities not to transfer the teacher. 

As many as fifty students are studying in the school. Three teachers are working in the school at present. As there were indications as per government rules that additional teacher Girija was going to be transferred, the parents of children in the school and SDMC were angry.

Girija has been teaching in the 35 year-old school for the last 17 years.

Kodapadi local organizations and locals had vowed to retain the school by working hard to bring 18 students who were going to English medium schools last year. The number of students in the school had increased following their efforts.

Girija had joined as a teacher and later promoted as headmistress during her 17-year service in the school. As per government rules, there is provision for one teacher for the initial ten students and two teachers up to 60 students. There are three teachers for 50 students in Kodapadi School. Therefore the government ordered transfer of Girija.

However, the locals expressed their disapproval and said that the people like Girija have tried hard for the survival of the school.

"The government brings about unscientific rules looking for excuses to close the government schools," they alleged.

The young children boycotted their classes and stood outside the gate holding umbrellas shouting slogans even as it rained for a while. Parents and SDMC stood outside the gate which was locked waiting for the local education official to arrive. Though the official had earlier said that he would be coming at 10 am, it was 11.30 am by the time he arrived.

Byndoor Education Officer Nagesh Nayak said that it was a government rule and action had to be taken as per the government circular. "This confusion is going on in most of the schools in the state. The decisions are being reviewed," he said.

However, the protesters were not convinced. The parents said that they would be locking the door if the teacher was transferred. "We will be sending our children to other schools," they threatened.

Zilla panchayat member Shobha G Putran, Kundapur taluk panchayat president Jayashree Mogaveera, vice-president Pravin Shetty Kadke, taluk panchayat members Narayana, Surendra Kharvi, Raju Devadiga Trasi, Akshara Dasoha officer Seetharam Shetty, gram panchayat president and vice-president, leaders Sukumara Shetty and others visited the place.