Warden-teacher rift leads to school closure

DALTONGANJ: Fate of 229 students of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) in Naxalite-hit Palamu's Panki hangs in the balance. The school is closed for the past five days and most of the girls have gone home.
The reason for the closure was a dispute between warden Bharti Kumari and social science teacher Rani Kumari. According to sources, the teachers have political affiliations and both are at loggerheads.
According to a Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan official, in a place like Panki if two teachers can show such imprudence, it only indicates that they have patronage from political masters.
The warden squarely blames Rani Kumari for the school's closure. The warden said the social science teacher intended to become the warden and was instigating the students in the name of bad food and other provisions.
Social science teacher Rani Kumari rubbished the charges and blamed her for the mess. "In a residential school, the post of warden is only for two years. Bharti continues to be the warden for more than five years," argues Rani.
Bharti, too, admits that she is the warden since 2006. "Using political connections, the warden has got me transferred from Panki to Pandu," alleged Rani.
Bharti also confirmed Rani's transfer to Pandu where too there is a residential school. Rani also countered Bharti by saying that Bharti is running her writ.
Bharti, on the other hand, claims her performance has won the appreciation of the education department and as such she continues to be the warden.
The district superintendent of education is away from Palamu and could not be contacted for his comments.