Students demand opening of educational institutions

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 8

Students took out a protest march from Khalsa College to Guru Nanak Dev University demanding opening of educational institutions that have been closed down by the government due to the Covid-19 situation.

The protest was held under the banner of the Punjab Students’ Union (Lalkar), All-India Students’ Federation (AISF) and Punjab Students’ Union.

Lovepreet Singh Marri of the AISF said while the government had ordered closure of schools, colleges and universities on the pretext of the coronavirus, political rallies were being held every day. Student leaders said the system of online classes should be stopped immediately and regular classes should be held by opening educational institutions.

Students also burnt the copies of the New Education Policy (2020) stating that it was aimed at centralisation of powers, which would directly affect the executive and administration councils at universities that have elected members.

Student leaders said April 8 was specially chosen for the protest as it was on this day that Bhagat Singh had thrown a bomb in the assembly to wake up the government. They said they hope their protest would wake up the Punjab Government.

They said higher education had already become costly and out of reach of poor students. Students demanded that efforts be made to provide affordable education in the state. The protest was also joined by the members of Naujwan Bharat Sabha, Government Teachers’ Union, Punjab Istari Sabha and All-India Kisan Sabha.