Relief in sight for shifted students

Akash Ghai

Tribune News Service

Mohali, August 6

In the ongoing controversy regarding shifting of students of Class IX and X of Government High School (GHS), Phase 6, to the GHS, Phase 5, Mohali Mayor Kulwant Singh, along with councillor of Phase 6 RP Sharma, held a meeting with Krishan Kumar, Secretary, School Education, Punjab, on Monday evening.

During the meeting, Krishan Kumar reportedly assured the Mayor and the councillor that the school would not be downgraded and the students, who had been asked to shift to the GHS, Phase 5, would be brought back to the school within a month.

Confirming the development, Sharma said the Secretary assured them that their intention was not to downgrade the school to the middle level. “He assured us that it would continue to be a high school and the students, who had been asked to shift to the GHS, Phase 5, would be brought back within a month”, said Sharma.

He said the Secretary told them that the development (shifting of students) had taken place due to an internal issue.

The Secretary also assured the public representatives that the students would face no problem in reaching their new school and a special air-conditioned bus would be provided to pick and drop them.

The education authorities had shifted five teachers, including a head teacher, and two Class IV employees from the Phase 6 school after asking the 50-odd students of Class IX and X to shift to the GHS, Phase 5, last week.

Since then, the students have been staging a protest and refusing to leave their school. On Monday, the students, along with their parents, had decided to stage a dharna in front of Krishan Kumar’s office here, but postponed their programme in view of the meeting.

Sharma said after getting an assurance from the Secretary, the students and their parents agreed to go to the new school for the time being.

Students to be back within month

At a meeting, Krishan Kumar, Secretary, School Education, Punjab, reportedly assured the Mayor and the councillor that the school would not be downgraded and the students, who had been asked to shift to the GHS, Phase 5, would be brought back to the Phase 6 school within a month.