Date:27/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/27/stories/2008112750550200.htm

Karnataka - Mysore

Children protest seeking teachers’ appointment

Special Correspondent

MYSORE: It was a protest with a difference. And the protagonists were schoolchildren seeking appointment of teachers to their school.

Nearly 1,000 students, accompanied by as many members of the public, blocked the KRS Road on Wednesday and urged the Government to recruit teachers to fill up the existing vacancies in the Government Primary and Middle School at Kumbarakoppal.

Egged on by social activists and other stakeholders, the students not only boycotted the classes but “criticised” the authorities for their laxity in discharging their duties of identifying and filling up vacancies.

Students from first standard to seventh standard participated in the strike and were given an assurance by the senior police officials who visited the spot.

But they insisted on the presence of Education Department staff following which Deputy Director of Public Instruction Nagendra Prasad rushed to the spot.

But his presence brought no solace as the official pointed out that recruitment process had been stalled by a Government decree and hence he could only depute teachers from other schools.