School recently saw student protest
The Poddar School has itself been at the centre of concerns over infrastructure and student welfare in recent weeks.
More than 100 students staged a sit-in outside the institution following an incident in which plaster reportedly fell from a classroom ceiling and struck a student, prompting concerns over the safety of the school building.
The students raised a range of grievances, including poor hostel facilities, inadequate food and sanitation, shortcomings in teaching arrangements and alleged harassment by a staff member.
They also complained about inadequate access to teachers proficient in Indian Sign Language and the poor condition of toilets.
Unable to communicate through speech or hearing, the students used sign language, placards and written messages to convey their demands during the protest.
Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot and Jully had earlier visited the school and met the protesting students. Gehlot called for government intervention to address their concerns.
Following the protest, education department officials visited the institution. Chief block education officer Asha Gupta met the students and assured them that their grievances would be addressed.
She also informed them that school principal Bharat Joshi had been relieved of his duties with immediate effect.
Congress to raise issue in assembly
The Congress has said it will continue to raise education-related issues during the assembly session and demand accountability from the state government over the condition of government schools.
The party is also expected to press its objections to the new restrictions on access, photography and videography, arguing that greater scrutiny โ not tighter restrictions โ is needed to address shortcomings in public education institutions.
Thursdayโs march thus brought together two strands of the Oppositionโs campaign: concerns over deteriorating infrastructure and student facilities, and resistance to what Congress leaders describe as restrictions on their ability to inspect and publicly highlight problems in government schools.
With IANS inputs
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