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Plus-Two girl students go on flash strike

Staff Reporter

They seek restoration of classes, conduct of practical exams

Photo: T. Singaravelou

FIRM ON THEIR STAND: The headmistress of Thiruvalluvar Government Girls Higher Secondary School persuade students to call off their agitation.

PUDUCHERRY: Girl students of two higher secondary schools on Wednesday went on a flash strike demanding restoration of classes and holding of practical examinations immediately.

The agitation by students compelled the Government to call the lecturers, who have been on strike since January 29 in support of various demands, for talks. The Government postponed the practical examinations, which had been scheduled from February 5, in view of the lecturers' strike.

The lecturers called off their agitation after hectic parleys at the Chief Minister's chamber. The Plus-Two students of the Thiruvalluvar Government Girls Higher Secondary School on Laportee Street came out of the campus and squatted on the road leading to Sinna Supriya Pillai Street demanding restoration of classes and immediate conduct of practical examinations.

Take out rally

The headmistress tried to persuade them to withdraw the agitation. However, the students took out a rally to the Education Department, some two km away, and staged a dharna. Soon, students from Manimegalai Government Girls Higher Secondary joined them. By noon, the busy 100-feet road near the department was flooded with students blocking the road leading to traffic diversion at several points. Politicians belonging to the AIADMK and the BJP came to the spot and tried to address the students pledging support to their cause. The students said a "firm no" and rejected sacks of water packets offered to them by the party men, in full glare of the media. "We don't want any politician all we want is the education department officials to listen to our problem," shouted one of them.

The students said if the practical examinations were to be postponed they would not have enough time to prepare for the theory. "How will they conduct the model exams if they are going to extend the practical exams," asked another student.

They dispersed at around 2 pm after Education Minister M.O.H.F Shajahan came to the spot and assured the students that exams would be held from February 10 to 20. He also assured them that model exams would be conducted in time.

The lecturers were demanding among other things avenues for promotion by filling 50 per cent of vacancies at Grade-I level (headmistress) and appointment of lecturers as vice-principals and attestation authorities for them.

They agreed to conduct the practical exams after Government promised to constitute a committee to look into their grievances.

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