To organise mass rally on August 24 & seal SDEO office
Tobu, August 23 (MExN): The Tobu Area Students' Union (TASU) has alleged that there is a shortage of teachers in schools across the Tobu sub-division, while the office of the Sub-Divisional Education Office (SDEO) Tobu is also not functional.
In this connection, TASU expressed its disappointment to the Department of School Education (DoSE) and the Administration for overlooking the concerns raised by the students' community, Village Education Committee (VEC) and Village Councils regarding the shortage of teachers, even after repeated letters submitted to the concerned authority.
Accordingly, the union has further resolved to hold a mass public rally on August 24 at Tobu Headquarter and also seal the SDEO Office Tobu until the department meets their demand.
A press release from by TASU General Secretary Ngaupu A informed that out of many schools are facing shortages of subject teachers, the union had specifically raised concern over three schools since the beginning of the academic session.
The Government Middle School (GMS) Shamnyu-A, with seven classrooms (PP to Class-VI) and an enrolment of 122 students (52 boys and 70 girls), is run by only two teachers, it said.
Further, only two teachers are managing the Government Primary School (GPS) Pessao-B, with six classrooms (PP to Class-IV) and an enrolment of 104 students (50 boys and 54 girls), it added.
Likewise, at GPS Shinnyu, there are only two teachers for five classrooms (PP to Class-III) with an enrolment of 111 students (58 boys and 53 girls).
According to TASU, in addition to the letters written by the concerned VEC and Village Councils, the union had submitted an ultimatum to the DoSE on 30 June for the immediate posting of teachers within a period of 15 days.
Another letter regarding the issue was also handed over to the Chairman SDPDB on 4 August during its monthly meeting "even stating that the union will abstain from attending the meeting if the demand is overlooked."
However, TASU informed that till date no positive responses have been received from the DoSE or the administration, "clearly violating the rights of the students and thereby compromising the future of the innocent students."
Meanwhile, TASU further alleged that the SDEO Tobu office is also non-functional, and the community is yet to see any senior officers/staffs from the DoSE to address the issues faced by the students' community.
With the majority of the staff attending the office only during national events and monthly planning board meetings, no improvement in the implementation of various education policies can be seen under Tobu Area, it added.
In view of this, TASU held an emergency meeting with its federating units and other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on 22 August and resolved to organise the mass public rally and seal the SDEO Office Tobu.
"Any untoward circumstances that arise thereafter will be solely the responsibility of the concerned authority," it added.
