CANACONA
Students at the Government Primary School (GPS) at Ziltawadi-Gaondongrim boycotted classes on Monday morning after their parents protested over the sudden transfer of a teacher.
The aggrieved parents have demanded the cancellation of the transfer within 24 hours, failing which they warned that students would continue to boycott school.
Around 26 students of GPS Ziltawadi-Gaondongrim refused to enter classrooms after the morning assembly at the school and sat outside the school premises in protest over the transfer of their teacher.
Students squatting outside said that their teacher had prepared them for the school gathering, besides conducting several other activities in addition to teaching, and had also planned a school picnic. They were upset that their teacher had been suddenly transferred.
The primary children were joined by their parents, who also stood in support of their young children boycotting classes.
Speaking in the presence of most parents, School PTA Chairman Pradeep Gaunkar requested Chief Minister and Education Minister Pramod Sawant to immediately cancel the transfer order of the teacher concerned.
“By her sheer hard work, this very teacher had saved this school from closure by getting more enrolments, as the government was planning to close it down because of insufficient student strength. Our school has progressed so well that more and more parents, even from outside areas, prefer to send their children to the GPS Ziltawadi,” said Gaunkar.
“This particular teacher has given a new lease of life to this school, which is now on the path of progress and development. At this juncture, we believe someone played mischief in getting the teacher transferred...if the teacher’s transfer is not cancelled, we along with our children will continue to boycott classes/school.”
Parents informed that since the election code of conduct is in force, the PTA has submitted a petition to the Canacona Returning Officer (Poinguinim-23 & Khola-22) and Canacona Police. The parents said they have also verbally informed the Canacona ADEI that students of GPS Ziltawadi would continue to boycott classes until the teacher concerned is brought back to their school.
