Over 40 students and their parents staged an overnight protest at the Block Education Officer’s (BEO) office in Khanapur on Thursday, opposing a private school’s refusal to issue transfer certificates (TCs). The protest was called off around 4.30 am on Friday after the Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI) assured that suitable action would be taken.
Sources said the Department of Primary and Secondary Education had recently approved the opening of Class 8 at the government school in Itagi village, Khanapur taluk. Following this, around 40 students from a private school run by CRS Education Society applied for admission to the new government school. Upset over the mass transfer, the private school management allegedly withheld the TCs.
With Friday being the last day to submit the certificates, parents and students began a dharna at the BEO’s office on Thursday evening after repeated requests went unanswered. They alleged that despite submitting a memorandum a month earlier, officials had failed to act.
BEO P. Ramappa visited the protest site and urged the agitators to withdraw, but they refused until the TCs were issued. He then instructed the private school’s headmaster to release the certificates immediately. When the management still failed to comply, the education department filed a complaint against the school at Nandagad police station.
Local Congress leaders visited the site to support the protesters. Later, DDPI Leelavati Hiremath addressed the parents and students via video call, assuring them that appropriate measures would be taken to safeguard the students’ interests. Following her assurance, the protest was temporarily withdrawn.
