Shortfalls galore in Sadar Hills schools
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 09 2013 : All the UJB schools functioning under Sadar Hills ADC at Chinnikol, Nungsai Chiru, Parengba, Nungang, Wainem, Laimaton, Loibol, Heitup Makhong, Ichum Kom, Sadu Chiru and Khoribok are full of shortfalls and wants.

None of these UJB schools have proper buildings and they do not have adequate desks, benches, chalks, dusters etc.

These schools do not have even a single almirah for keeping important documents including attendance registers.

Most of these schools are using private houses or community halls as their classrooms.

Students studying in these schools hardly receive the facilities given under SSA.

Even as the Right to Education Act says that all schools should have separate toilets for boys and girls, none of these 11 schools have any toilet.

As very little benefits guaranteed by the Right to Education Act and SSA are extended to students of these schools, the number of students enrolled in these schools is far below expectation.

Majority of the teachers, though appointed by Sadar Hills ADC, belong to places far away from the schools and they are not getting their monthly salaries regularly.

As such, majority of the teachers attend their schools only once or twice in a while.

With the teachers staying away from schools most of the time, these schools are being run by substitute teachers.

The Government of India's flagship programme Mid-Day Meal is not implemented at these schools to the desired level.

The concerned Deputy Inspector of Schools has no idea how much rice is given to these schools under Mid-Day Meal scheme which implies that the DI has been bypassed while implementing Mid-Day Meal scheme in these schools.

Taking serious note of the lack of any substantial development despite all the programmes initiated by the Government for betterment of school education, Sadar Hills ADC Member Roingam Thanga convened a meeting at Bungte Chiru with chiefs and secretaries of the 11 villages, Headmasters of the schools and the DI .

What transpired at the meeting was nothing but voices of grievances, disappointment and dissatisfaction.

Saying that some people have been swindling public money in the name of building schools and necessary infrastructure without doing anything on ground, Roingam Thanga appealed to the village chairmen to put up proposals for schools which do not have buildings of their own.

He declared that ADC would focus on betterment of the education scenario.

A sub-committee has been already constituted to monitor schools functioning under District Councils.

Roingam also appealed to all teachers to attend schools regularly.

Though it is said that the Government has devolved powers to the ADCs, it remains only in paper.

Nonetheless, all the ADCs have been working together to persuade the Government translate its devolution of powers to ADCs into action.

A proposal has been already submitted to the Government to construct 300 school buildings in the hill districts.

If the proposal is approved, some schools buildings can be constructed in the areas of the six ADCs, Roingam Thanga said.

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