Merger of schools: In Jawali, locals wary of sending girls to co-ed institution
Protesters opposed the merger of the nearly century-old girls’ school with the boys’ school and objected to its conversion into a co-educational institution under the CBSE pattern
Resentment is brewing in Jawali town of Kangra district after the state Education Department notified the merger of Government Senior Secondary School (GSSS) for Girls with PM Shri Boys’ GSSS, declaring the latter a lead CBSE-affiliated co-educational institution.
Up in arms against the decision, residents, including mothers of girl students, members of the School Management Committee (SMC) and representatives of local Beopar Mandal, held a protest demonstration at the gate of the girls’ school on Friday.
Raising slogans against the government order, the protesters opposed the merger of the nearly century-old girls’ school with the boys’ school and objected to its conversion into a co-educational institution under the CBSE pattern.
The protesters alleged that the move was part of a “well-planned conspiracy” against Jawali town. Several women protesters said their daughters felt safe in girls’ school and were not in favour of shifting to a CBSE-affiliated co-educational institutions.
The SMC and parents demanded that the school should continue under the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education. The protesters said a memorandum would soon be submitted to the Chief Minister and Education Minister, seeking denotification of the merger order issued on February 18.
They maintained that instead of forcibly implementing CBSE curriculum in government schools, the state government should focus on strengthening infrastructure and improving academic standards.
SMC president Samita Devi alleged that the decision had deprived students of their right to study in schools affiliated with the HP board.
She added that post-merger students wishing to continue under the state board would have to travel 3 to 5 km to enroll in GSSS Palora or Matlahar.
