Teachers seek transfer out of Panapakkam school after students’ suicide

TNN | Nov 29, 2017, 00:20 IST

Vellore: Traumatised over the suicide pact of four students of Class XI, several teachers of the government girls' higher secondary school in Panapakkam in Vellore district have appealed to the education department to transfer them out of the school.

Though the school, with a total of 1,300 students, from Classes VI to XII, resumed functioning as usual, uneasy calm prevailed in the premises of the school and the neighbourhood. Officials from police and education department have been camping in the school for the consecutive second day on Tuesday to probe the suicide of the students - R Sankari, B Manisha, K Deepa and K Revathy of class XI (nursing group).

The teachers were shocked over the incident. In a suicide pact, the four girls, who were asked to bring their parents to school to meet the class teacher over their performance, jumped into a well. Their bodies were fished out later.

The chief education officer, however, denied it and said no teacher has sought transfer. He said the services of teachers, Rekha, Meghala, Sivakumari and Lilly, appointed by the Parents Teachers Association have been discontinued. "We have asked the four PTA appointed teachers to stop coming to school from Monday. They have been working in the school for the last one year to four months. They have been paid by the PTA," said an official in the education department

The department has taken the measure following the suicide. It may be recalled that Headmistress J Ramamani and class teacher of nursing group Meenatchi Sundeswari have been placed under suspension following the students' suicide.

A reliable source said four to five teachers have submitted petitions to Chief Education Officer S Mars seeking a transfer.

"We are scared to even ask the students to sit in their respective places. This is the scenario now. We are depressed and under mental agony since Friday. We have no confidence to face the students," said one of the 34 teachers working in the school.

She added that many of the teachers have submitted petitions, seeking transfer out of the school. "A few teachers have also decided to seek transfer to other schools," said another teacher, who has been working for over 10 years in the school.