Naxal menace affects education

Dantewada, Chhattisgarh, Mar 7 (UNI) Naxal terror has led to students absenting themselves from school examinations thus, paralysing the education system in Chhattisgarh.

The school education in Dantewada and Bijapur districts' are affected as the students have been constantly facing problems due to the Maoist activities.

Hundreds of students failed in the High School and Higher Secondary level board examinations last year. This year a considerable number of students are not appearing in the examinations.

Admitting this fact, the Education Department sources said this was due to the naxal menace which left the children homeless and they have been bound to stay at relief camps.

''Only 44 students have appeared in class X board examination at Bijapur district's Todenar centre, while not a single student is giving the higher secondary's examination,'' said District Education Officer D C Patel.

The state government had provided general promotions to the affected students from class first to seventh, two years back.

During examinations the extremists had killed 55 constables at Bikapur district's Ranibodali area while, eight jawans were also killed in the landmine explosion in Dantewada on March 2007.

Ultras blasted more than 70 school buildings during the last two years.

Some leaders of anti-naxal campaign 'Salwa Judum' claimed that insurgents deliberately keeping the children away from education and forcefully keeping them in their training camps.

''Most of my friends were at mental unrest due to the naxal violence which triggered just at the time of our examinations,'' said Bijapur district-resident and a high school student Ayatu, adding that out of 30 only two students cleared the exams.

Basaguda-resident Hasim, father of a school student, said large number of students had not been attending classes.

The literacy rate of this region is 25 per cent hence, district's students have been demanding the state government to grant some special concessions while providing jobs by decreasing the required percentage.

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