UHSS slumps due to Govt's piecemeal treatment
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Ukhrul, August 18, 2012: For one of the pioneering government institutions - Ukhrul Higher Secondary School (UHSS) in the entire district, there are many challenges at hand to revive its reputation as the premier school that has churned out many prominent citizens in different walks of life.

Established in 1952, UHSS was instrumental in moulding the career of scores of students, who have assumed various important positions in public life.

But today, the school has been reduced to a name ubiquitous to all government institutions and is lagging far behind others-all due to the government's indifference and piecemeal treatment.

In comparison with the other government institutions, UHSS has one of the best building infrastructures but acute shortfalls in administration, teaching staff and student's facilities have reduced the school to a total farce.

''The premier school in Ukhrul is today reeling under various problems making it very difficult to run and revive its past glory,'' said Principal R.Ringkahao in an interaction with mediapersons.

On Saturday forenoon, Hunphun Katamnao Long (HKL) hosted a press conference inviting the UHSS authorities, official from Zonal Education Office, Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong, Tangkhul Youth Council and THYSO in the school premises.

During the interaction, the school authorities highlighted the multiple difficulties being faced by the school, which at the moment is being run sans full-time principal, vice-principal and adequate teachers.

Compounding the problem, the two hostels (one for boys and the other for girls) having 34 rooms each are still non-functional owing to non-provision of furniture and kitchen, absence of residential quarters for warden and chowkidar, and irregular payment to contracted teaching staff.

Furthermore, the school was provided with 24 computer sets in 2008.But much to the dismay of students, courses on computer were never imparted till today.

The school authorities contended that the computers were furnished with almost all the seals broken and they are not fit for use.

''The school refused to accept the computers as the seals were broken and the machines were tampered.

An inquiry has been instituted in the matter, '' disclosed a senior teacher.

The school has altogether 250 students in three streams at higher secondary level with the recent introduction of Commerce to the existing Science and Arts department.

In the current session, it has a total 749 students which is by far the highest relatively with the other government schools in the district.

In 2008, the new school building in the heart of Ukhrul town was inaugurated by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh much to the public appreciation.

Since then, however, the institution has been suffering the pinch of negligence with Ringkahao running the affairs acting as both principal and vice-principal.

The participating bodies, during the interaction, have expressed serious concern and dismayed over the grim realities the students are in today.

In unanimous voice, they urged the higher authorities to immediately redress the problems.

For the students particularly in higher secondary level, it is definitely a trying moment.

''The session actually opens on July 7 but proper classes began only on July 19 due to non-attendance of teachers.

In other schools, the students have been taught more than 50 percent of the course.

In our case, only first lessons are being covered,'' rued Wisdom, a student's representative of Class XI science.

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