SSA in jeopardy : Upgraded Primary schools a still born child
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 27 2014 : Central sponsored Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) scheme is caught in a precarious condition in the State.

Primary Schools upgraded to Upper Primary Schools under the scheme could not be opened till date.

The Government of India gave sanction in 2005-06 for construction of additional class rooms for 200 Primary Schools which would be upgraded to Upper Primary Schools.

Construction of class rooms has been completed except for a few ones and due bills have also been paid but no classes have commenced at these schools.

Headmasters of some schools told The Sangai Express that even though construction of class rooms has been completed, they are not yet ready for commencing class.

Again, even if the class rooms are ready for commencing classes, there are many schools where there is not a single student.

The Government paid bills for construction of class rooms to contractors through respective Headmasters.

This system dragged Headmasters into the ugly tussle for grabbing the contract works who otherwise should concentrate on teaching.

The same system put Headmasters under heavy pressure.

Heingang Primary School

At first, the Headmasters had no idea that additional class rooms would be constructed.

A man came to them with a list of schools and offered to build class rooms.

Whereas the Headmasters were not given any information about the new project of constructing school buildings or class rooms, a contractor came to the school and executed the foundation part before another contractor came and started construction of the main structure.

This led to tense conflict among the contractors and the Headmasters had a hard time acting as intermediaries to bring the conflicting parties to an understanding.

The new school buildings were constructed in such haphazard manner.

Funds sanctioned in the first instalment were distributed among the contractors amidst heavy pressure.

The situation improved to some extent after school management committees were set up.

The State Government submitted a proposal for upgrading 300 Primary Schools to Upper Primary Schools in 2013-14 followed by another proposal for upgrading 305 Primary Schools to Upper Primary Schools in 2014-15.But the proposals, after due consideration, were rejected by the Project Approval Board (PAB) .

One major reason for rejecting the proposals was inability to open the Upper Primary Schools which were upgraded from Primary Schools, informed a source.

According to the Manipur State Right to Education Rules, there should be one Primary School for every walking distance of one Km and one Upper Primary School for every walking distance of 3 Kms.

But the Sate Government is still unable to submit a final report on the number of Primary Schools and Upper Primary Schools the State should have.

This is another factor for rejecting the proposals to upgrade Primary Schools.

Nonetheless, anther proposal to upgrade 123 schools to Upper Primary Schools through inter-district re-appropriation has been approved.

Going by the same argument that the upgraded schools are not ready for commencing classes, the State Government's proposal to construct 18 hostels was also turned down by the Government of India, added the source.