Minor students 'lift' bricks: Headmaster suspended

ROURKELA: The in-charge headmaster of a government upper primary school in Sundargarh district has been suspended for allegedly engaging four minor students to lift bricks on the premises.
The Government Upper Primary School, Lathikata, has 375 students studying in classes I to VIII. The school also has a hostel for 40 students from classes I to V.
All government schools were closed till Sunday due to the heatwave condition but the inmates were in the hostel. Sources said that on Saturday, Shantilata Panda, the in-charge headmaster, reached the school and called 17 inmates, aged between 7 and 10 years, and made them shift bricks from a boundary wall which was demolished for building a new one. When district education officer Amulya Kumar Pradhan learnt about the engagement of students in shifting of bricks, he immediately instructed Lathikata block education officer Debendra Sa and assistant BEO Sarat Pati to conduct an inquiry.
Both officials went to the school and during inquiry, Panda admitted she had engaged minor students for shifting of bricks. Subsequently, Sa suspended Panda (58) and directed her to report to the block education office.
"Panda has been placed under suspension for engaging minor hostel inmates of the school for shifting and stacking of bricks," said Pati.