July 14: Many schools and colleges reported poor attendance today due to widespread disruption of local services of Central Railway and sporadic incidents of violence.

Colleges remained officially `open' though the University of Mumbai did not issue any circular on closure of educational institutions. Institutes along the Central Line were affected more than those in the western suburbs.

The Principal of Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics, U B Shahane, said: ``Some students and teachers did manage to come to college today and hold a few lectures; but since the central services were disrupted most of our office staff could not come to work.''

Most of the principals informed that their students preferred to remain at home than risk coming to college. ``Since the students have not come to the college we could not hold the classes. However, the teachers and non-teaching staff have reported to work,'' said the principal Dr R T Sane of Ramnarain Ruia College in Matunga.

Bhavans college at Andheri and Mithibai in Vile Parle were reportedly not affected. ``At Bhavans we are holding all the lectures; however, there has been a lot of rumour mongering and most of the phones in our area are not working,'' said Principal D B Kadam of Bhavans college.

The President of Association of Non-Government Colleges (ANGC), M G Shirahatti, said: ``On Saturday there were practically no students in colleges and today the attendance is less than 50 per cent. The institutes in Dadar, Ghatkopar and Chembur areas are more affected.''

The Pro-Vice Chancellor of Mumbai University, Dr Naresh Chandra, informed that the varsity has not issued any circular on the closure of colleges as Monday's bandh has not been called in Mumbai. He, however, added that quite a few university employees were absent.

The situation in schools was no better. Principal of Bansidhar Agarwal High School and Junior College at Wadala, Ramakant Pandey told Express Newsline, ``Several schools in Wadala-Matunga area are closed today.'' His school, in which 60 per cent students are dalits, recorded 70 per cent attendance. Pandey noted that the dalit students were not at all disturbed about the situation.

``I am the teachers today!'' bragged a fourth standard pupil of Central Railway English medium school at Parel, as there were hardly any teachers around.

Principal H N Pal, Sir J J Fort Girls High School and convenor of A and B wards observed, ``Compared to suburban schools, south Mumbai schools recorded better attendance which is around 80 per cent. Our students have come from distant places like Mumbra and Kalwa.''

The general secretary of Mumbai Junior College Teacher's Union, M R Andhalkar said, ``Colleges are more affected than schools as in the latter case the students live comparatively close-by.''

Taking stock of the tense situation today, Don Bosco at Matunga was declared closed today. But as one of its teacher hurriedly pointed out, ``it is not a holiday. This week the school will remain open on Thursday to compensate for the loss in today's working hours.''

The chairman of the education committee, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Neeta Naik said, ``Several schools belonging to both private and the BMC are closed in and around the sensitive areas.''

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.