Suspension fears for negligent teachers after student drowns during trip

KOLKATA: The managing committee of Dum Dum Kishore Bharati School on Friday recommended the suspension of five teachers on grounds of neglecting their duty. On October 8, the teachers had taken five school students for an educational tour at Hingalganj, North 24 Parganas during which one of the students — Rajarshi Roy of Class VI — drowned in a pond. His father, Mrityunjoy Das has alleged negligence on the part of the teachers and has demanded an inquiry.

"This afternoon, we have received a recommendation for the suspension of the five teachers. We are looking into it and will announce the decision soon," said Kalyanmoy Ganguly, president of the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE).

Last Sunday, the WBBSE had summoned the headmaster and managing committee of Kishore Bharati School. They had also questioned the teachers who had taken the students for the trip.

It has been alleged that the school authorities had not given a nod to the students to go for such educational tours. The deceased, along with four of his classmates and five school teachers, had gone on their own. The body of the student was recovered on October 8 from a pond in Malekan Ghumti area under Hingalganj police station.