Bandh calls are turning out to be a problem that students, parents and schools have to deal with in the new academic year 2012-13. After student organisation AISF called for a school bandh on Wednesday, due to which several city schools remained closed, yet another bandh has been called by the ABVP on Friday to protest against corporatisation of education. Several schools in the city have already sent messages to parents informing them about the school being closed on Friday on account of the bandh.
With schools losing two working days already since the new academic year has commenced hardly a week ago on June 12, school managements have urged student unions and political parties to exempt schools from bandhs in the interest of students. “Student unions seem to be competing with each other in calling for bandhs.
They are protesting against the failure of the government in supplying textbooks, implementation of 25 per cent quota for poor students in private schools under RTE, regulation of fee structure and action against unrecognised schools. Instead of trying to bring pressure on the government to meet their demands, they are disrupting schools by calling for bandhs. Private schools have no role to play in this, since it is the state government that has to take a decision on these issues. Why should school students be made to suffer over these demands?” asked S. Sreenivas Reddy, president, AP Recognised Schools’ Managements Association.
Schools had lost nearly 40 working days during the previous academic year due to Sakala Janula Samme and other agitations demanding Telangana state. “Disruption of classes on account of bandhs since November 2009, when T-agitations broke out, has adversely affected the performance of students, especially in board exams. City schools have fared badly in SSC exams for the last three years, and they are continuing to do so,” Mr Reddy pointed out.