Government and aided schools in parts of the district, including Mukkom, Karanthur, Koduvally, and Kunnamangalam, where the Bus Operators’ Organisation is on an indefinite strike protesting against traffic reforms at the Arayidathupalam junction in the city, witnessed a considerable drop in attendance with the strike entering the third day on Thursday.
Around 250 buses operating from different suburban areas, including Koduvally, Mukkom, Thamarassery, Narikuni and Mavoor, had stopped services to the city on October 7 after the traffic police implemented traffic reforms for private buses from these areas on August 25.
Schools witnessed up to 30 per cent drop in attendance. The strike also caused inconvenience to several teachers as well.
The highest drop in attendance was reported from schools on the Mukkom-Kozhikode route where students mostly depend on private buses to reach schools.
“We have a fall of around 30 per cent attendance,” said V.T. Abdul Khadar, headmaster of Karanthur Markaz High School. He maintained that the case was worse in some classes.
“Due to the strike, some students come late and leave early,” he said.
Government Vocational Higher Secondary School, REC, near Chathamangalam, where a number of students come from distant places such as Kodiyathur and Kunnamangalam also registered a significant dip in attendance. “Around 20 per cent students are not turning up in the higher secondary section,” said Principal N.P. Prabhakaran.
Government Higher Secondary School, Koduvally, has managed to ‘overcome’ the impact of the strike, thanks to some parallel services in the area.
“The strike has, however, affected the attendance of a section of our teachers, who come from far-off places, including Nilambur and Mukkom,” said headmaster T.M. Satheeshkumar.
Several schools, including Government Higher Secondary School, Kunnamangalam, Government Higher Secondary School, Mavoor, and Mukkom Higher Secondary School, have witnessed a dip in their attendance.
Meanwhile, the District Consumer Protection Committee has urged the authorities to settle the issue immediately ‘considering the huge inconvenience’ it caused to the people.
