Berhampur: Tension erupted at the Taliammapali School under Kavisuryanagar block of Ganjam district over guardians' allegations that the students were engaged in cleaning the latrine of the primary institution.

However, head teacher Mamata Patra defended the stand. "There is nothing wrong in engaging the students in latrine cleaning. Students should clean the toilets they use daily as part of tasks undertaken by the school sanitation committee. I give chocolates to them for this."

"I talked to the irate guardians, who were planning to stage a dharna. I talked to the head teacher and assured them of discussing the issue with block education officer Sudhanshu Sekhar Patra and assistant block education officer Paban Kumar Rout to find a way out," said block chairman Santosh Kumar Padhi.

The guardians had appraised the officers about the issue a fortnight ago, following which the officers visited the school and cautioned the headmistress not to repeat the incident. District education officer Sanatan Panda said he had ordered an inquiry into the allegations of engaging the students in cleaning the latrine of the primary school. "I have asked the block education officer to conduct the inquiry and submit the report to me," said Panda.

The block education officer had said such a decision to engage students in cleaning the school latrine was a violation of the Right to Education Act. "I will apprise the district education officer about the issue and recommend him to stop the salary disbursement of the headmistress," he said.