237 schools set for amalgamation
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 11 2019:
Altogether 237 schools located in the hills and the valley of the State are set to be amalgamated with nearby schools or schools with better infrastructure notwithstanding the fact that the current academic session is midway through.
Education (S) Commissioner Sumant Singh issued an order to this effect on June 12 but teachers came to know about it only a few days back.
Meanwhile, many quarters have expressed strong apprehension that the proposed amalgamation would jeopardise academic career of students of the 237 schools as well as students of those schools to which they would be amalgamated as the academic session is already midway through.
With a view to save schools which are in very bad shape and have very little students, the State Cabinet adopted a decision on February 4 this year to amalgamate 237 schools with nearby schools.
The Government's plan was given concurrence by the Finance Department's Pay Implementation Cell in March.
Even as the State Government was planning to implement the Cabinet decision after consulting local MLAs, the plan was delayed as the Lok Sabha election's model code of conduct came into force.
Nonetheless, Education (S) Commissioner Sumant Singh issued an order on June 12 whereby it was notified that 176 schools in the valley and 61 schools in the hills would be amalgamated with nearby schools which have healthy strength of students, better infrastructure and better accessibility.
Along with amalgamation of the 237 schools with nearby schools, employees of different categories posted at the 237 schools would be re-deployed where they are required.
However, no separate order has been issued till date regarding their re-deployment, informed a source.