Govt schools in Jiri cut a sorry figure
Source: The Sangai Express / Jiri News Network
Jiribam, August 09, 2014:
In a recent move, Manipur Government had, in response to the Jiribam Students' demand for teachers, assured filling up of all the vacant post for teacher.
However, a drive by a reporters' team across the Barak Circle found that most teachers, posted in the Jiribam area, seldom turn up for work.
Most of these Government school teachers posted in the the Barak Circle engage local men to teach the students while they lay back at home.
The Zonal Education Officer, Jiribam has done nothing even when these issues are crystal clear before his eye on terms of friendship or relations.
Meanwhile, the reporters added, some schools do not have sufficient furniture to run the school, while most do not show any infrastructural development.
The team's visit to Choudhurikhal LP school, located at the farthest end of Jiribam Hqs, found, to their utter amazement, that the school was running without any teacher.
According to local villagers, a teacher namely Kesab Babu runs the school.
However, the villagers informed that Kesab Babu never showed up.
Instead, a local villager namely Ramchuolo from Sagolphai, engaged by Kesab, teaches the school children.
What amazed the reporters most was the fact that these school children, owing to the schools' lack of drinking water facility, goes to a near by hillock to quench their thirst with the water which flows down the hillock.
Moreover, in addition to Choudhurikhal LP School, other schools in the area also faced similar conditions.
Most schools were taught by locals engaged by the Government teachers.
According to Barak Development Organisation (BDO) Chairperson Kh Rajesh, most of the teachers posted in the area seldom turn up to work.
They, instead, engage local men to substitute them, Rajesh added.
Expressing his concern over the kind of education the children are exposed to, he said that the qualifications of these engaged teachers are never questioned.
He, therefore, seeking the attention of the concerned authorities regarding the matter, demanded quality education in the area.
Meanwhile, Jiribam District Zonal officer refused to reveal names and number of teachers posted in these areas to the team.
However, one of its staff informed that the officers adjusted most of the posting according to his wish.
When asked about the authenticity of this information, Jiribam Addl Deputy Commissioner Dr Harmit Singh Pahuja expressed that a drive to inspect the truth behind the information has been organised.
He further assured that every teacher, adjusted by the ZEO, will be sent back to their original posting places.