Agitation of trainee teachers

 

COOCH BEHAR, Oct. 1: Members of All Bengal Primary Teachers' Trainee Association (ABPTTA) resisted the employees of District Primary School Council from entering in their office today. After a commotion for about an hour the DPSC chairman Md Nuruddin Mian and other employees entered with police help.

 

It may be recalled here that the employees of the office, even the DPSC chairman had failed to enter in the office due to the agitation on Friday. The agitators had locked the main gate on that day which was later broke open by the Cooch Behar ADM (D) Mr Pannalal Mahapatra with police help.

 

ABPTTA president Mr Bhajan Barman, said, they were demanding for a long for dissolving of cases related to Primary Teachers' Training Institutes (PTTI) running in the High Court and appointment of trained candidates in vacant posts in the primary schools. But the authorities concerned did nothing to meet their justified demands. Finding no alternative they decided to start an intensive stir at the DPSC office in Cooch Behar, Mr Barman said.

 

Today, after entering into his office the DPSC chairman met the ABPTTA leaders and assured them that he will meet the state school education minister soon to discuss the issue. He told them that after the puja vacation he would sit with them again to convey the development. Getting the assurance the ABPTTA members lifted their agitation today, Mr Barman said. []

 

Exam centres demanded at Kalchini

 

COOCH BEHAR, Oct. 1: Demanding setting up of Higher Secondary examination centres at Kalchini the members of Progressive Students' Union (PSU) organised a rally at Kalchini in Jalpaiguri district today. Later, they submitted a memorandum containing a 15-point charter of demands to the Kalchini BDO, Dr Reshmi Komal. Mr Ramkumar Lama, Mr Rajesh Dorjee, Mr Pasang Sherpa and Ms Anuradha Lama led the programme today.

 

PSU leader Mr Ramkumar Lama said there are 13 high schools in Kalchini block and higher secondary units were introduced in six schools. But there is no examination centre for the higher secondary students in Kalchini. They have to go to Alipurduar or Birpara to appear in the examination. In this context higher secondary examination centres are needed for the students of the block, Mr Lama said.

 

Kalchini block PSU secretary Mr Rajesh Dorjee demanded Madhyamik examination centres at Hasimara. In the memorandum the PSU leadership demanded question papers in Hindi for Hindi speaking students and permission for writing answer scripts in Hindi in degree course examinations.

 

Many students from nearby villages and tea gardens participated in today's agitation. Mr Lama said their demands should be met by December otherwise they will have to start a massive movement like roadblock and even hunger strike. The Kalchini BDO heard their demands and reportedly assured that those will be conveyed to the higher authorities. []