Teacher shortage, pending grants, school fees spark SFI march to Bikash Bhavan

The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) iorganised a march today to press a set of demands related to government school education. SFI activists and supporters are scheduled to assemble at Karunamoyee before marching towards the Bikash Bhavan gate, where they will submit a deputation to the authorities.

At the centre of the protest is the demand for immediate appointment of adequate teachers in all government schools. SFI has called for a transparent and corruption-free recruitment process, alleging that shortages of teaching staff are adversely affecting the quality of education. The organisation has also demanded the immediate release of all pending composite grant funds meant for school management. According to SFI, delays in fund disbursal have hampered the day-to-day functioning of schools and affected essential facilities. Another key issue raised by the protesters concerns additional fees charged by government-aided schools. SFI has asserted that such schools must strictly adhere to government regulations and not collect more than rupees 240 as extra fees from students.

The march is expected to draw significant participation, with police arrangements in place around Bikash Bhavan. SFI leaders said the agitation aims to highlight long-standing issues in the education sector and press the government for immediate action.