Kadamtala, 24 December 2024: In a dramatic turn of events, students of Bishnupur Secondary School under Kadamtala block boycotted classes and later staged a road blockade in protest against the transfer of their arts teacher, Arpita Nath. The determined stance of the students has left the remaining teachers in disarray, while the absence of senior officials from the Education Department has raised eyebrows.
The protest began with students locking the main gate of the school on Monday, refusing to attend classes. On Tuesday, they escalated their agitation by blocking the Bishnupur-Dharmanagar road from 11 AM, causing disruptions to regular traffic. Despite the ongoing protest for two consecutive days, neither the school authorities nor officials from the Education Department have shown any concern or visited the site to address the issue.
Speaking to reporters, the protesting students expressed their dissatisfaction over the transfer of Arpita Nath, the only arts teacher at the school, to another institution. They demand her reinstatement, stating that no replacement can fill the void she has left.
In response to the transfer, the Education Department has hurriedly appointed another teacher, Rupali Begum, to the school. However, the students are adamant, rejecting the new appointment and insisting on the return of their former teacher.
Headmaster-in-charge Amal Kanti Malakar revealed that the school’s afternoon section accommodates 178 students, supported by seven teachers. He acknowledged the challenges posed by the protest but refrained from commenting further on the students’ demands.
As of the time of reporting, no senior officials from the Education Department have arrived at the school or the protest site to mediate the situation. It remains to be seen how this student-led protest unfolds and whether their demands will be addressed.
