The early arrival of central forces has left many schools in Kolkata and its surroundings worried.
Police have started writing to these schools asking for their premises to house the forces. At least four schools have already received such letters.
The school heads said this year the central forces are arriving earlier than what is usual for an election season.
Holding classes as usual and conducting the summative tests could be difficult, several school heads said.
The historic Bethune Collegiate School in north Kolkata has suspended classes
up to Class VIII for the time being as the central forces are expected to use the school premises.
The school said in a notice circulated among guardians on Thursday that students up to Class VIII should wait for the next notice to know about the resumption of classes.
“We were alerted by Burtolla police station on Thursday that six rooms would be requisitioned by the central forces. We plan to hold classes on alternate days at the primary level. We would inform the parents of the upper primary section about the resumption of classes soon following a meeting with the parents. Classes IX and X will be held as usual. The practicals of Class XI, scheduled next week, will be held as usual,” said Sabari Bhattacharya, the teacher-in-charge.
Lake Town police station last week informed Sanjay Barua, the headmaster of Naraindas Bangur Memorial Multipurpose School on Bangur Avenue on the northern fringes of the city about the arrival of the central forces.
“We have been told that we have to make 12 out of 15 rooms available for the use of the central forces. The central forces are likely to arrive anytime. Since most of the rooms would be requisitioned, we are worried about conducting classes,” said Barua.
“In the last Parliament elections, as far as I know, the forces set up their base in April. I have heard since additional central forces are being deployed for the Lok Sabha polls this year, the forces are being asked to set up their bases early. But we are worried about how classes would be held as the forces are expected to stay till the election results are announced,” the headmaster said.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the counting was held in May.
The Telegraph reported on February 29 that the Election Commission of India has decided to deploy 58 companies of central forces in five districts in and around Kolkata.
Classes remained suspended at Naraindas Bangur Memorial Multipurpose School following the conduct of the HS examination from February 16 to 29.
Headmaster Barua said: “We had plans to hold the summative tests from Classes I to X in April. But if the forces take possession of so many rooms, how will we hold the exams?”
In government, government-aided, and government-sponsored schools, students are assessed through a combination of formative and summative tests.
Sougata Basu, a teacher of Uttarpara Government School, said they were also expecting the central forces to arrive any day.
“The law-and-order situation and the prospect of elections being held in several phases in the state seem to have prompted the deployment of forces so early. But it would be difficult to hold classes once the central forces arrive. The students are likely to suffer,” said Basu, who is also the general secretary of the government school teachers’ association.
