Students of Baijalbari Higher Secondary School in Tripura staged a highway blockade protesting mass teacher transfers and demanding the headmistress’s removal. They alleged academic disruption, administrative negligence, and unresolved complaints. Authorities later assured urgent action, prompting students to call off the protest after two hours.
In a dramatic display of student activism, hundreds of students from Baijalbari Higher Secondary School in Tripura’s Khowai district staged a protest on Wednesday, demanding the removal of their headmistress and the reversal of recent teacher transfers that have left the school in academic disarray.
The protest took a serious turn when the students blocked the National Highway near the school premises, disrupting vehicular movement and drawing widespread attention to what they described as a “deepening educational crisis.”
Mass Transfer of Teachers Without Replacements
The students alleged that several teachers had been transferred from the school in the past week without any replacements being posted. This sudden and unplanned transfer of teachers has, according to the students, brought the institution to a near standstill.
With a depleted teaching staff, classes are not being held regularly, and crucial academic sessions — particularly in subjects like science — are being missed. The crisis deepened further on Tuesday when yet another science teacher was transferred, worsening the teacher-student ratio and sparking anger among students and parents alike.
“Our studies have come to a complete halt. We are barely getting any classes. If this continues, we will be left far behind in our curriculum,” said one of the protesting students.
Repeated Pleas Ignored
The students claimed they had raised their concerns multiple times with both the school administration and the district education department. However, their appeals were either ignored or met with hollow assurances.
Last Saturday, the students had organized a similar protest and highway blockade but were persuaded to withdraw after officials promised quick action. However, no concrete steps were taken in the following days, leading to Wednesday’s larger and more determined demonstration.
“We were promised that new teachers would be appointed soon. But instead, more teachers are being transferred. It feels like our future is not a priority for the authorities,” said another student.
Demands for Headmistress’s Removal
Alongside the demand for reversing the teacher transfers, the students also called for the removal of the headmistress. They accused her of misbehavior, negligence, and lack of empathy toward students’ educational needs.
They alleged that multiple complaints had been lodged against her regarding her conduct and administrative inefficiencies but that no action was ever taken by higher authorities. “She does not support us, does not listen to us, and has never stood up for our academic rights,” one student told reporters.
Police Intervention and Resolution
As the highway blockade led to massive traffic congestion and public inconvenience, the Baijalbari police, led by the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Khowai, arrived at the scene and attempted to pacify the agitated students. However, the students stood firm on their demands and refused to vacate the road without official intervention from the education department.
The standoff finally began to ease after a senior official from the district education department reached the protest site and held discussions with student representatives. The official assured the students that their grievances would be addressed on a priority basis.
The official also promised immediate steps to fill vacant teaching positions and stated that appropriate action would be considered regarding the headmistress’s conduct. Following this assurance, the students lifted the blockade after nearly two hours of protest.
A Larger Crisis in Rural Education?
The incident at Baijalbari Higher Secondary School reflects growing concerns about the state of education in Tripura’s rural areas, where teacher shortages and administrative negligence often leave students in limbo. The strong student response also highlights a new wave of activism among school students who are increasingly vocal about their rights and quality of education.
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With public attention now on the issue, local residents and student organizations have urged the government to treat the matter with the urgency it deserves, warning that further negligence could lead to more unrest in the future.
