RKL airs shortages in Govt schools
Source: Chronicle News Service / R Lester Makang
Ukhrul, April 06 2022:
Raphei Katamnao Long (RKL), a conglomeration of students' organi sations from 45 villages in northern Ukhrul has urged the state government to look into the deplorable conditions of government run schools in the region, plagued by shortage of teachers and absence of requisite facilities and infrastructures.
In a representation to the education minister through the deputy commissioner of Ukhrul district on Tuesday, the students' body said that the education system in the hills is at the saturation point of collapse if necessary action is not taken at the right time.
"We want students (in the hills) to also enjoy equal opportunities of learning to gain quality education," it said and requested for im piementation of biometric attendance for teachers in the schools at the earliest to ensure proper functioning of all government schools.
Pointing out the acute lack of teachers, it said that only a few teachers attend classes as many others have failed to perform their duties, blaming it on the inadequacy of teachers' quarters.
Frequent transfer of the teachers before completing even a year of posting has also contributed to the shortage of teachers, it said adding that teachers are frequently transferred out on the pretext of utilisation.
There has also been rampant malpractice such as proxy, substitution of teachers by qualified employed teachers while enjoying salary from the same place of posting.
"These are the main reasons for the failure of the education system here," it said.
Along the same line, RKL observed that while the educational system in the district is in a deplorable state, Covid-19 pandemic has even worsened the situation in the last two years as schools were closed.
Even as online education was adopted during the period, the same could not be implemented in the hills due to erratic power supply, poor network and others.
The students' body also said that most of the schools are lacking basic facilities and infrastructures such as toilets and water supply.