SFM ineffective as shortages galore at Govt School
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, September 22 2021: The 'School Fagathansi Mission' was launched by the state government with the aim of improving and uplifting the government schools in the state.

However, the efficacy of the scheme is questionable at present as many government schools continue to face issues.

One such school is Saiton Government High School located in Bishnupur district, which is missing a head master and several teachers, leaving the students in a desperate situation.

On Wednesday, volunteers of Socialist Students' Union of Manipur (SSUM) and a media team visit the school and found it in unfavourable conditions.

In addition tt lacking teachers, the school is bereft of proper infrastructure and other necessities.

The lone high school in the area does not have proper fencing, making it an ample grazing ground for cattle.

The campus ana verandahs of the school were found littered with cow dung, while the dilapidated classrooms lacked desk and benches and laboratories.

Of the only 5 classrooms, the floors and walls of three were found completely damaged.

Some of the classrooms were completely covered in dust, leaving no signs of 'School Fagathansi Mission'.

Speaking to newspersons, School headmaster (in-charge) N Iboyaima informed that the school does not have a regular headmaster and it currently has only 7 teachers including 4 teachers utilised via SSS.

Among this, the teacher for Hindi subject had passed away due to Covid-19 and as such, the total number of teachers is 6 .

As he (Iboyaima) will be retiring in October, the school will be facing more difficult times amidst the shortage of teachers.

Iboyaima continued: "There are not enough teachers for various subjects from Class VI-X and the existing teachers have been teaching different subjects to address the shortages.

This, in turn, has reduced the student enrolment rate drastically with only 20 students appearing in the last Matriculate examination.

"However, the lack of proper infrastructure in addition to the shortage of teachers has further lowered the enrolment for the current academic session with only 5 students in Class X.The total number of students in the school is only 68 .

"Of the 5 classrooms of the school, 3 were constructed some 20-30 years ago.

Meanwhile, the construction of the quarters for the teachers has not been completed, inconveniencing the teachers who come from Imphal.

Former education minister Th Radheshyam had conducted an inspection during his term", he said, while urging authority concerned to look into the matter and help address all issues including shortages of teachers, infrastructure, etc, faced by the school.

SSUM president Soraisam Yaima Meetei, who also took part in the inspection, said that although the 'School Fagathansi Mission' is an encouraging scheme of the government, the efficacy of the said scheme can only be witnessed at government schools located in Imphal.

The same cannot be said for government schools like Saiton Government High School, he remarked.

Contending that education is the backbone of the society, Yaima urged the government to ensure effective implementation of 'School Fagathansi Mission' in government schools located in the fringes of villages across the state.

Commenting on the dilapidated condition of Saiton Government High School, the SSUM president said that the lack of proper infrastructures, particularly teachers could lead to the disappearance of the school.

As such, he urged the government and the authorities concerned to repair existing infrastructures and resolve the shortage of teachers.

Yaima further lamented tardy construction of quarters of the teachers, which had commenced in 2016.When SSUM investigated the delay, it was found that the funds for the second installment were already withdrawn.

Thus, he demanded the contractor involved to clarify on the matter, while urging for completion of the quarters at the earliest.

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