Lone govt school in Sandang Shenba Maring village lies in ruins
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Maisnam Karnajit

Imphal, February 13 2012: The Sandang Shenba Maring UJB School located in Sandang Shenba Maring Village under Senapati district has lost the looks of a school and is lying in ruins with no authority to look into the normal day-to-day functioning of the school.

It is the only government school in the village, which has a total population of around 1500 people.

The school has a single room with just two pair of desks and benches and two small black boards hanging from the walls, not for the purpose of teaching lesson but for covering the hollow walls.

According to Right to Education Act, 2009, free and compulsory education up to elementary level is to be ensured to all the children in the age group of 6 to 14 years all over India, with exception to Jammu and Kashmir.

But this fundamental right which is guaranteed by the Constitution of India has never been exercised in this UJB School.

Talking to this reporter, KP Angphom, Secretary, Village Authority, Sandang Shenba Maring Village, said that on account of its present state, the villagers fear that the only UJB School in the village may become extinct.

The Village Authority has time and again lodged complaints with the Zonal Education Officer of Imphal East, who told to report the matter to the concerned authority of Senapati district.

When the Village Authority approached the Zonal Education Officer of Senapati, the officials there again asked to approach the Kangpokpi Zonal Education Office.

But when the village authority went to the Kangpokpi Zonal Education Office, they were told that the Sandang Shenba Maring UJB School falls under the jurisdiction of Imphal East.

The villagers are confused as to where the village authority should approach, Angphom said, and lamented that the state government has never paid any attention after establishment of the school.

He expressed regret that the only thing which remains to be seen of the school at present is the dilapidated building, the crumbling walls and a couple of desks/benches inside the dusty class room.

Under such conditions who would like to send their children to study in this school?, he questioned, adding, that as a consequence of present condition of the school, the number of students enrolled has dwindled over the years and now it is on the brink of extinction.

He further informed that presently there are 5 teachers in the school and one M Moba is the headmaster of the School.

But they seldom look after the welfare of the school and the conduct of classes depend on their conveniences.

With the lone government school lying in rot, most parents preferred to enroll their children to Little Learning English School, a private school run by the village Church, KP Angphom said and appealed to the authority concerned to upgrade the school in to a Model School.

Some of the villagers have also complained that the mid-day meal is provided to the students of the school once or twice a year.

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