Imphal, September 27 2009: Out of 50 Government schools located in Imphal East district, 23 schools have no toilet facility while 20 schools have toilets in shabby conditions, says a report compiled by the Institute of Social Work and Research.

According to the report of the Situational Analysis of Children in Government Schools conducted by the Institute of Social Work and Research with funding from the Manipur Alliance for Child Rights, students studying in Government schools in Imphal East district have been facing a lot of inconveniences due to absence of toilets or unserviceable conditions even if some schools have toilets.

The research work was conducted in 50 Government schools of Imphal East district.

The report was released at a simple function at Hotel Nirmala today.

The 50 schools selected for the survey work included Lower Primary, Primary, Upper Primary and High Schools.

Out of these, 10 schools are exclusively for boys while eight others are exclusively for girls.

Of these total 50 schools selected as samples for the survey work, only two schools have toilet facilities.

Five other schools have usable toilets.

The absence of toilet facilities or shabby conditions of the toilets have been serious inconveniences to both students and teachers, more particularly lady teachers and girl students.

Headmasters and Headmistress of seven schools have already approached the concerned ZEOs to build toilet complexes but there has been no response till date.

In addition to the problem of toilets, many of these schools have been facing several other problems such as inadequate classrooms, buildings, absence of compound fencing, lack of playground, unavailability of electricity and computer facilities etc, mentioned the report.

32 schools, out of the 50 selected for survey, do not have safe drinking water facility.

13 schools have the luxury of potable water while two schools use water from wells.

The report release function was graced by retired Chairman of the Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur Chaoba as chief guest and former Principal of the DM College of Teachers' Education S Gyaneshwar as functional president Speaking at the occasion, Chaoba noted that worsening condition of Government schools in the state.

While schools located away from Imphal are suffering teacher shortage, there are surplus teachers in schools located in Imphal, he said.

Reminding that all children between 6 to 14 years have the right to compulsory education, Gyaneshwar said that the survey work was aimed at ascertaining whether all the children are enjoying this fundamental right.

Absence of toilets in schools was a big problem for the students as well as teachers.

It was also one primary reason for students particularly girls to stay away from schools, he observed.

Convenor of the Manipur Alliance for Child Rights, Montu Ahanthem said that several major issues plaguing Manipur have seriously threatened the rights of children.

While concentrating on these major issues, people didn't find time and space to pay any attention to children related issues.

Noting that the right to education is one of the fundamental rights entitled to all the children, Montu said that the research work was carried out to find out whether the children were receiving proper education under the same fundamental right.

Zeliangrong bodies row : As per the decision taken by the Zeliangrong Elders Forum of Peace Broker in a meeting convened on June 18 at St John School, Luangba, the forum will organise a public convention from October 29 to 31 to discuss the matter of two parallel bodies, Zeliangrong Union and Zeliangrong Baudi, reports our Tamenglong correspondent.

Convenor of the convention, G Gaingam informed both the Zeliangrong bodies not to hold any meeting in the name of convention or discuss on nomenclature of Zeliangrong.

The forum also asked not to hold any election though the current term will end by October.

The forum further said that the proposed convention would decide on the use of term 'Union' or 'Baudi' or otherwise and election for new office bearers so as to end all the confusion.

Comment