-The Hindu
Police arrested 25 members of Students Federation of India (SFI) here on Tuesday when they tried to picket the office of the Chief Education Officer demanding implementation of 25 per cent reservation of seats for poor students in educational institutions, as assured by the Government under the Right to Education Act.
They tried to enter the CEO’s office when the police stopped them and arrested them. Arularasan, district secretary of SFI, said the government should try to put an end to collection of exorbitant fees by schools and colleges.
Nagapattinam
Members of the Students Federation of India staged blockades here in two locations demanding stringent implementation of Supreme Court orders on reservation for economically backward students in private schools.
SFI cadres staging the blockade here in front of the office of the Chief Educational Officer in Nagapattinam, demanded compulsory quality education for economically backward groups and 25 percent of their intake in private schools.
Demanding that all schools be directed to paste a list of students selected under the 25 per cent quota for economically backward quota, V.Singaravelan, district secretary, SFI, said that this would ensure transparency.
The protestors demanded monitoring of schools to ensure that fees beyond the stipulated amount was not collected from students. At Mayiladuthurai, the office of the District Education Officer was picketed under P.Mariappan, district president, SFI.
Over 1,560 students of Thyagi G.Narayasamy Municipality High school boycotted school in Mayiladuthurai, while the Nagapattinam protest witnessed participation of over 200 cadre.