Shimla: Students of Saraswati Paradise School organise protest fearing imminent closure of school due to management dispute
Sep 20, 2024
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], September 20 : Parents and students of Saraswati Paradise School here organised a protest march towards the Raj Bhawan on Friday, fearing the imminent closure of their school due to an ongoing management dispute.
The demonstrators submitted a memorandum to the Governor, urging him to intervene and appoint an administrator to ensure the school's continued operation.
The conflict between the school's chairman and principal has reportedly disrupted classes, leaving parents and students deeply concerned.
Sunaina Dogra, a parent, explained the gravity of the situation and said that the education of the children was getting affected due to the ongoing conflict.
Speaking to ANI, Dogra said, "The children's education is getting affected due to the conflict between the chairman and the principal. Neither the teachers are coming to the class nor the studies are happening properly. My daughter has to appear for the tenth board exams. More than 900 children study in the school and if the classes don't run smoothly and the management keeps fighting, then how will the children be able to take their exams?"
Another parent, Anita Mehta, whose son also studies in class tenth emphasized the need for government intervention.
"The government should intervene in the schools so that the education of the children is not affected. The same staff should remain so that the education of the children is not disrupted," the parent said.
The students of the school have also been alarmed by the deteriorating situation.
Harshit Sharma, a class tenth student, voiced his concerns and said that due to the management being terminated, the education of the students has been affected and classes were not being conducted properly.
"The management has terminated all the teachers, and education is being affected. Classes are not being conducted due to the fight between the chairman and the principal. We need an administrator in the school, and the staff who have been terminated should be reinstated so that our education is not affected." said Harshit.
Himansh, a class eighth student, expressed hope that the Governor would resolve the crisis.
"What is the condition of our school for the last three to four days? All the teachers have been terminated. Our brothers and sisters are being harassed. Our principal was removed while he was a teacher. The principal is very good. The year is ending. Where will 900 children go at once? This is a question of the future of the children." said Himansh.
Akshita Chandel, who has been attending the school for a decade, described the emotional toll of the situation.
"I have been studying here for the last 10 years. The school has seen us grow. We have been here for 14 years. We cannot leave such schools midway. The school has given us a lot. We have come with the hope that the governor should establish an administrator in the school so that our school can be run further."
The protest has gathered substantial support from parents, students, and teachers, and now awaits a response from the Governor as the community rallies to protect the future of 900 students.