Protests staged against transfer of teachers in Udupi schools

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, July 29, 2016: Protests were held at many government schools in Udupi city on JUly 28, Thursday against the move to transfer additional teachers to different schools in Dakshina Kannada. Members of the Students’ Federation of India and the Democratic Youth Federation of India staged protests at Munnooru, Kasaba Bengre, Padu Panambur, Kadambail, Nadugudde, Gurupura, Marakada, and Ullal. Students boycotted classes and took part in the protest. Members of the School Development and Management Committee also protested.  Earlier, protests were held at the Government Higher Primary School at Mannagudde where counselling for additional teachers was held.

Officials from the Department of Public Instruction alleged that the protests were instigated by teachers proposed for transfer, and added that some of the fears expressed by the protesters were ill-founded. An official overseeing the process of transfer said physical education teachers who were on the list of additional teachers would be transferred only if there was any vacancy in schools having more than 200 students. The official said they were not transferring teachers if there was a plea from the school that the number of teachers was proportionate to the number of students. On the protesters’ fear of loosing ‘Nali Kali’ teachers for classes 1 to 3 because of the transfers, the official said all teachers had been trained in this system and the programme would not be affected.

The official said they were following directive of the government and had prepared the list of teachers. They were awaiting further orders on posting these teachers. Some teachers on the list were instigating students and parents to protest, it was alleged.