Cite two new lady teachers’ refusal to take responsibility for students
TEAM HERALD
CANACONA: In an unusual protest, parents of the Government Primary School at Ponsulem-Canacona took back their children from school on Thursday after accusing two newly deputed teachers of showing little interest in the welfare of students.
About 20 parents of GPS Ponsulem protested in front of the school, which imparts education to about 35 students, before taking their children back home.
During the recent mass transfers of the longest-serving government teachers at one location, both teachers of GPS Ponsulem were shifted to the nearby GPS Sawantwada and GPS Char Rasta and they were replaced by two lady teachers on Wednesday.
The parents were reportedly aggrieved that the new teachers had allegedly refused to take responsibility to escort their children along a narrow and winding path connecting the school before and after school hours.
“The newly posted teachers refused to take the responsibility of the children, who need to walk along a narrow and muddy path, which is about 100 metres from the tarred road,” said PTA Chairman Paiek Bagdo Gaonkar.
On learning that the newly posted teachers had refused to take the responsibility to escort their children, about 20 parents gathered at GPS Ponsulem and entered into a heated discussion with the teachers, before taking their children back home from school.
Following the protests, the parents took 28 children without allowing them to attend classes, while six students were left behind.
Speaking to some press persons, PTA chairman Gaonkar said they did not like the attitude of the newly posted teachers, as they did not show any interest in protecting their children, unlike the previous teachers.
“We will complain about this to Canacona MLA and Sports Minister Ramesh Tawadkar,” said Gaonkar.
When contacted, the newly posted teachers refused to speak saying that they are not allowed to speak on such matters.
Incidentally, GPS Ponsulem school building ~ which is also used as a polling station during elections ~ has a well-designed compound wall, but lacks an approach road to the school.
