Students from Palam area of Rajouri staged a massive demonstration on Rajouri-Budhal road on Wednesday and blocked it for around three hours, in protest against the uncertainty of class 11th being made functional in the Government High School Palam.
A large number of students from the area along with their parents assembled on Rajouri-Budhal road at Palam and blocked it at about 9:15 am. They burnt tyres and raised slogans against the local district administration as well as senior officers of Education department.
They claimed, “Recently, the government issued an order for up-gradation of High School Palam. Subsequently, class 11th was started in the school and a lot of students were enrolled into it. We were taught in the school for a few weeks, but soon we were asked to shift to Government Higher Secondary School Rajouri.”
Locals said that they had staged a demonstration over the unwanted shifting of class 11th students, after which the children were again made to sit and study in Palam school. “But, the uncertainty still prevails,” they said.
“We are stuck in a dilemma as the order for up-gradation of the school was an individual one. The new session was started and students were enrolled. But then the department asked them to be shifted to Rajouri school for 11th class. Why was the school up-graded then?” parents accompanying the students accompanying said.
They demanded that 11th class should be made to sit in Palam school, as it caters to the need of a vast area. “Kids from more than one dozen villages are dependent on this institution for studies,” they said.
Earlier, tehsildar Rajouri, ZEO Bal-Jarallan, SHO Rajouri and other officers reached the spot and tried to pacify the protesting students, who refused to open the road until and unless their dilemma is not cleared by the Education department.
Later, CEO Rajouri Lal Hussain reached the spot and met with the protesting students. He assured them that 11th class students will study in Palam school and that he will soon provide the required additional staff.
On this assurance, the protest was called off and traffic was restored.