Apathy writ large over Gelnel High School
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 18 2012: Like any other Government schools in the rural areas, acute shortage of staff, lack of infrastructure and alleged apathy of the Government have not only incapacitated the growth of Gelnel Government High School, the only high school in IT Road area, Sadar Hills located about 90 kilometres from Imphal, but also compelled the school authority to divert MGNREGS fund to mend the lacunae.

Significantly, the school has over 486 students despite its remote location.

But lamentably, the school, which caters to a population of over 20,000 covering around 70 villages, has only eight teaching staff and one chowkidar.

Moreover, the school, located 2 kilometres from Gelnel village, has no Science and Maths teachers.

Interestingly, in a step to fulfil the desire for education of the area's public, the school authority had to hire the service of private teachers to fill the lacuna by diverting MGNREGS fund.

With the diverted fund, the authority paid the salary of seven privately hired teachers.

During a recent visit to the school by a team of media persons and members of Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM), it has been learnt that the existence of the school is not without positive result.

Out of 20 candidates from Gelnel High School who appeared this year's HSLC exam, 13 have cleared the exam while 7 others failed in Science.

The chief of Gelnel village, Thangsat Khongsai, who donated 3 acres of paddy field for the school, told the team that the Additional Director of Education (S) has been informed about the vacant teacher posts in the school.

Contrary to the expectation, the chief was informed to find the teachers himself.

In their yearning for education, locals of the surrounding villagers were obliged to construct make-shift hostel buildings with double-deck couches made of bamboo to accommodate students who come from far-flung villages of the area.

There are 8 such small and crammed makeshift buildings within the school campus.

Sometimes, parents and guardians have to volunteer their service in cooking and looking after their wards routine wise.

To add to the pitiable condition of the students, the structures are so crammed that no space for keeping table and chair has been left.

With no proper infrastructures that are needed for a full-fledged high school, two classes have to share a single room by facing opposite direction, that too with desks and benches made of bamboo slices.

The grant of four tables, six almirahs, 16 pairs of desk and bench and a PA system under RMSA were too meagre to fulfil the needs of the students and the school.

To mend the infrastructural gap, they had to hire desks and benches from the Church though it is still far from meeting the requirement.

The school, though, has a playground thanks to the assistance through 10 Dogra's Tamei post.

The team also found that the school is bereft of fencing and separate toilets for boys and girls.

The school was shifted to the present location from Gelnel village when it was upgraded into High School in 2006 .

The area is covered by four Assembly segments including Tadubi, Kangpokpi, Saitu and Tamei.

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