New Delhi: A group of girl students of a government school in Mahnar of Bihar’s Vaishali district attacked a vehicle of the state’s education department Tuesday to protest the institution’s lack of facilities.
Sub-divisional officer of Mahnar Neeraj Kumar said the school did not have adequate seating capacity. He said more students had been admitted in the school than what classrooms could hold.
“Some students didn’t get to sit inside and blocked a road… they were misguided. We have calmed them down and everything is normal. We are looking at the possibility of running the school in two shifts, as is happening in other schools in Vaishali district,” Kumar said.
He added that students of Classes 11 and 12 would start school late so that the school’s existing facilities could be fully utilised.
Kumar also said Monday’s violence was being investigated.
Last month, the education department ordered government schools strapped for classrooms to construct prefabricated ones to accommodate students.
The department also directed schools facing shortage of staff to hire “guest teachers”. The state has 75,309 government schools.
An official told news agency PTI that district magistrates began regular inspection of schools from 1 July this year. They found many schools lacked adequate classrooms and teachers.
In a letter dated 26 August to district magistrates, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Education Department K.K. Pathak, said classes were taken on verandahs and open spaces, and that officials concerned had been directed to build prefabricated rooms on a “war footing”.
Pathak asked magistrates to personally monitor the progress.
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