By Zahid Shah
Budhal, June 19:
Scores of students from Government High School Gabbar, falling under the Koteranka education zone, staged a powerful protest on Wednesday against the acute shortage of teaching staff. The agitating students marched from Gabbar to Budhal and blocked the Budhal-Gabbar road for several hours, severely disrupting traffic and causing hardship to commuters.
The protest highlighted the long-standing issue of staff scarcity at the school, which was upgraded from a middle school to a high school in 2007. Despite this upgrade, the school continues to operate with only five teachers, including the headmaster, for over 360 enrolled students.
“This is not an education system; it’s a glaring example of administrative failure,” said a protesting student. “Our future is at risk due to the lack of proper education facilities.”
Students complained that many subjects are left untaught due to the staff shortage, forcing several to migrate to private or distant government schools, increasing the financial burden on their families. The situation has sparked widespread concern among parents and local residents.
The protest drew participation from local Panchayat representatives, social activists, and concerned citizens. One resident noted, “We’ve been raising this issue with the education department for over 15 years, but nothing has changed—only hollow assurances.”
The demonstration, which began with the slogan "Budhal Challo", gained momentum as more supporters joined the student rally en route. Though various political and social figures engaged with the protesters, the students firmly stated that symbolic visits and verbal commitments were no longer acceptable.
Eventually, officials from the Budhal police and revenue departments reached the spot and held discussions with the students. They assured the immediate posting of one teacher and the deployment of two to three more within a week. However, the students remained skeptical, warning that they would resume protests if these promises were not met.
