Imphal, November 12: The ongoing strike by teachers of the Manipur Public School ended today, but not before matters took a serious turn with students confronting parents and ransacking the school's administrative block today.

The incident occurred after the school principal in-charge reopened the school today in consultation with the parents' association, but the teachers declined to take classes.

However, after negotiations were held among the teachers, students and the secretary of education (s) following the incident, the teachers have agreed to suspend their strike and resume their duties.

It may be mentioned that the teachers of the school have been on strike from October 31 last, their major demand being the removal of the current principal in-charge, whom they charge is neither competent nor qualified to hold the post as per both the school's own regulations as well as the CBSE norms.

Other demands include regularization of adhoc teachers serving in the school, pay revision for school employees, and clearing up of irregularities concerning the employee provident fund of the institute.

The students of the school, as well as the Manipuri Students Federation, had been demanding the reopening of the school at the earliest.

According to sources, after the school assembly this morning, the students entered their classes, but the teachers were not ready to resume work.

At around 11 am, the students came out from their respective classrooms, and came in a group to meet the school principal.

The students were stopped by members of the parents association, who told them to return to their respective classes, leading to an exchange of hot words between the students and their parents.

The incensed students then proceeded to rampage through the school's administrative block.

The principal's office, the administrative section, examination room, senior teachers' room, and ladies' and gents' staff rooms were ransacked.

Desks, tables and other furniture and windowpanes were smashed.

Speaking to IFP, students of the school demanded to know why the school was reopened without a mature solution to the teachers' strike.

Today's incident had resulted because they were confused and angry, they said.

In the meantime, the senior students of the school submitted a memorandum to the Governor this afternoon.

A discussion was also held this evening at the office of the education secretary, Shambhu, who also acts as secretary of the Manipur Public School Society, along with members of the Manipuri Students Federation and the teachers of the school.

According to sources, during discussion, the secretary, education (s) agreed to the demand of the teachers for removal of the present principal in-charge, and assured that she would be asked to proceed on leave from November 20 next, and that a qualified teacher would be appointed to act as principal of the school.

A committee formed by members of the parents' association and the teachers' association has also been formed.

The MPS Teachers Association on its part, agreed to suspend their strike in the interests of the students, keeping their other demands as secondary.

Comment