Suhail Dar/ Insha Mushtaq Dar
A brawl broke out between teachers in Government Middle School, Tenjen area of Yaripora in district Kulgam after a teacher intervened when he saw the school’s students engaged in sweeping and cleaning tasks.
The students alleged that they were forced by a teacher, namely Gowhar Farooq Ganaie, to do the cleaning task, including sweeping, and forced them to clean the school’s bathrooms.
After the intervention of the Zonal Education Officer, the school has been closed down, and an investigation has been taken up.
Faisal Imtiyaz, a class 8th student from the school while talking to The Kashmiriyat said, “A scuffle broke out between the teachers in the morning at around 10:30 am when we along with some girls were forced to clean the washrooms. When one teacher intervened in the situation and told them that this was not the right thing to do, Gowhar sir thrashed and abused him and even broke his spectacles.”
“After the brawl, our parents reached our school and intervened in the situation,” Faisal Said. “The school has its sweepers and cleaners, yet they compel the students to do this task,” he added.
Faisal, while talking to The Kashmiriyat, said that the students want justice to be served not only for them but for their teacher as well.
Speaking to The Kashmiriyat, the headmaster of the School, Mohammad Ameen Wani, said, “The incident took place when morning assembly was going on. The alleged person had compelled some students to do the cleaning task, but when I saw the students involved in it, I told him this isn’t right. Another teacher from school also intervened in this due to which he (the accused) got violent and created the disturbance in school.”
“After the incident, I called the ZEO to intervene in the situation. He immediately visited the school along with some policemen and immediately ordered an enquiry in this matter. He also attached the whole staff of the school to the office,” Mohammad Ameen Wani added.
“The school has been closed down for now, and the decision of reopening the school will come as per directions from ZEO,” the headmaster said.