RTE in Jeopardy: 4 out of 5 teachers transferred from Wangoo Sabal UP School
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, July 15 2014: In spite of its mandatory provisions for ensuring free and compulsory education to all children below 14 years of age, students in Manipur have not really got the benefits of Right to Education Act.

2009.However, in the name of implementing the Act, a few Ministers, MLAs and officers have already started reaping 'moolah' from misusing the provisions of Act.

According to reports, the Wangoo Sabal Upper Primary School situated at Wangoo Sabal in Thoubal district which admitted 135 students in 2013 has only 71 students at present.

With the transfer of 4 teachers out of 5 Government teachers from the school, the confidence of the guardians for securing the future of the children from allowing them to study in the school was drastically reduced, thus, leading to mass withdrawal of their wards.

Despite being a government school, Wangoo Sabal UP School was uplifted to its glory with the local people of the area campaigning to enroll students for the last few years.

As a result of the support of local people, the school could have an enrolment of upto 135 students during last year, the report said.

As the 5 primary teachers of the school were insufficient to cater to the need of 135 students, the local people engaged 3 private teachers to attend classes in the school, it pointed out, while informing that during 2014, the Department of Education (S) under the enthusiastic Education Minister effected transfer of 4 teachers of the school.

The erstwhile Headmaster Chaoba was also promoted and transferred, while Primary teacher Md.Firoz Khan was transferred to Khergao Primary school.

Moreover, the Department ordered utilization of primary teachers Keisham Nirmala and Jeeteshore of the school at Icham Khunou Primary School and Urup High School respectively.

Consequently, at present there is only one government teacher in Wangoo Sabal UP School, who along with the other 3 private teachers is running the school.

With the parents and guardians losing confidence in the school as the government continuously removed teachers from it, the strength of students in the school has been reduced to only 71 as of now.

The students, although they wished to attend private schools, have to remain in the school as they cannot afford the same.

Even though the Wangoo Sabal School was upgraded to Upper primary level a few years back, the school has not been provided with the necessary facilities till date, reports said, adding that despite an amount of over Rs.37 lakhs had been sanctioned for construction of the school building, there has been no sign of building construction at the site at all.

The Right to Education Act, 2009 has become meaningless in the State with such instances of Government's negligence over its implementation.

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