Villagers lock school gate in Sonepat village

ROHTAK : Up in the arms against the state government over shortage of teachers, villagers kept government senior secondary school at Aterna village in Sonepat locked for around four hours on Tuesday to register their protest.

They alleged that 12 teachers were transferred to other schools three months ago and the state education department is yet to assign new teachers.

“There are only five teachers for nearly 500 students from Class 1 to 12. Despite repeated complaints, the education department has failed to bring new teachers here. The students have been suffering for past three months,” Subhash Chauhan, a parent, alleged.

The furious parents along with villagers, who have been sitting on a dharna for past four days, warned the education department to resolve the issue within a week or they will intensify their stir and “permanently lock the school”. “Our voices are falling on deaf ears despite submission of a memorandum and repeated reminders demanding adequate teaching staff, “said another parent, Praveen.

Sonepat district education officer (DEO), secondary, Kuldeep Dahiya reached the village and assured the agitating parents of resolving the issue at the earliest following which the protest was ended.

“Teachers could not be transferred here as the model code of conduct was imposed. I would write to senior officials in Chandigarh and request them to make necessary arrangements,” the DEO said.