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Row at Faridkot Adarsh school over DEO’s ‘conflict of interest’
The matter began in February, when a case of sexual harassment was registered against the chairman of the association that runs Adarsh schools at Pacca and Middumaan, on the complaint of staffers.
Teachers and the management of the Adarsh school in Middumaan villager of Faridkot district are at loggerheads again, over alleged plans to appoint a daughter-in-law of the district education officer (secondary) as principal on Tuesday.
The matter began in February, when a case of sexual harassment was registered against the chairman of the Sukhsagar Avenue Welfare Association, Narinder Singh Randhwa, that runs Adarsh schools at Pacca and Middumaan, on the complaint of staffers.
On December 4, the deputy state project director, Surinder Pal Singh, said the education department has sought inquiry reports of the school from the DEO. The DEO’s daughter-in-law remained present at the school during the entire episode on Tuesday. The teachers said it is a matter of conflict of interest and would also affect the ongoing probe against the management.
When, contacted DEO (secondary) Baljit Kaur Brar acknowledged that her daughter-in-law was present in the school. “She went to the school as her friend had called her.” The DEO refused to comment on possible appointment of her daughter-in-law as principal.
In the protest, the teachers involved students and the current principal, besides staffers who have a stay order of the court against their termination.
Harsimran Kaur Randhawa, acting chairperson of the school, said the management is following the rules “while some teachers and locals unnecessarily are creating problems”.
Police too reached the spot and station house officer (sadar) Iqbal Singh Sandhu calmed the protesters.
Adarsh schools are backed by the government in public-private partnership mode.
