Substitute teachers rule the roost in Jiribam
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Jiribam, August 01 2013:
Though appointed as teachers of Government schools under Sarva Shikshya Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shikshya Abhiyan (RMSA), many of them might not have seen their schools or interacted with the students even once.
This is the reality of school education in Jiribam.
Some teachers posted at Barak Circle of Jiribam sub-division in Imphal East were found hiring local teachers as substitutes on some monthly payment.
Most surprisingly, Choudhurikhal Government LP School was found running with the help of teachers from Evangelical Assembly Church.
Jiribam sub-division is basically a backward region situated on the borders with Assam.
Most people are economically backward with poor infrastructures in health and education.
The only means for education among poor people is the Government schools, which are surrounded by myriad problems and issues.
The Government schools are devoid of proper infrastructure and manpower.
Indeed, the State Government has failed to look after the needs of the people of Jiribam.
Choudhurikhal Government LP School, which is located at the extreme end of Jiribam sub-division, has 25 students (10 boys and 15 girls) from Nursery to Class II, but the Government teachers posted at the school hire two locals Niera Hmar and Lalhmangai as substitute teachers by paying them Rs.2000 each monthly.
According to the list of teachers given by ZEO Jiribam, three teachers namely Th Birjit Singh, Prithivi Das and B Nivedita are posted at the school.
However, none of the students of the school has seen them.
Durgapur Government LP School is also in the same condition with one substitute teacher Kh Manimohon teaching about 40 students of both Classes I and II.
One teacher N Janalee posted at the school was not known to the students.
Three teachers namely Rajbushan Singam, Keshab Babu and Th Somorjit were found absent at Dholakhal Punje LP School, though other teachers were teaching the students properly.
One Santosh was hired as a substitute teacher for Rs.1500 per month.
The headmaster in-charge of Dholakhal Punje School L Dinabandhu was also found absent.
Ironically, the teachers of this school do not even know some teachers namely Ch Premila, M Italioma and S Shyamsunder, who are actually posted at the school.
On the other hand, Jatrapur Primary School has 166 students with one teacher P Komlakanta.
One teacher Th Annie is totally unknown to the school.
Interestingly, one Sahib Khan was found teaching at Netaji High School on behalf of his wife Sophia Sultan, an arts graduate teacher.
The Government schools in Barak circle are worse than any other schools in Jiribam sub-division.
People of Barak Circle have even alleged that some teachers sent their joining reports through fax and the ZEO and the DDO have taken Rs.10,000 from teachers who never attend their school in the sub-division.