DESAM team finds pigsty, cowshed in school building
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, September 12 2011: A 15 member team of DESAM led by its secretary Moirangthem Angamba today inspected government schools in Sekmaijin area launching its campaign for school inspection.

The team visited Sekmaijin Junior High School, Phoubakchao Awang Government Primary Madrassa, Laphupat Tera Government Primary School, Laphupat Tera High School (Aided) and Aarong High School.

The DESAM team found Laphupat Tera High School building inhabited by a pig, a cow and a calf and some desks and benches with collapsed walls.

According to a substitute teacher Gopen, the school has 30 students and 11 teachers including four government approved teachers.

However, they submitted a list of 156 students to get maximum benefits of Mid Day Meal and SSA.

Moreover, the Laphupat Tera Government Primary School was found surrounded by Phragmites (Tou-a popular and large perennial grass found in wetlands throughout temperate and tropical regions of the world).

The school has 25 students and a teacher H Pramodini from Yaiskul Chingakham Leikai.

Unfortunately Pramodini comes only once in a week to the school.

The children are being taught by a substitute teacher Ningthoujam Ranjana wife of Rajkumar of Laphupat Tera Mayai Leikai.

Salam Robindro, Joint Secretary, Social Welfare Club, Laphupat Tera told the team that they had pressed the government to send adequate number of teachers to teach the students and launched many types of agitation.

But their plight fell on deaf ears of the government.

In order to save the careers of the poor students, they made an agreement with the teacher posted there and engaged Ranjana by paying Rs 1500 per month from the salary of the teacher.

Ranjana told the team that she teaches the 25 students of class 1 to 5 in a single classroom from 9.30 am to 12 noon.

The Aarong Junior High School which was upgraded into High School this year has 272 students and four government teachers.

Out of the four teachers, two have been engaged in SSA duty and one in deputation.

The remaining teacher called Moirangthem Kamala from Kumbi also attended the school once in a while.

In order to save the school and the career of the students, three local clubs engaged 12 private teachers and utilized them in teaching the students.

One of the private teachers, Loukrakpam Amar told the team that the 12 teachers do not get any wages for their service.

They even feel ashamed to go back to their home to have their meals and ask their family members to wash their clothes.

They are utilizing the kitchen shed of Mid Day Meal scheme as classroom since the school does not have adequate classrooms for the students.

The furniture was arranged by the amount donated by DGP Y Joykumar under Civic Action Programme.

Even though they are not getting any wages for their service, they are teaching the students for the sake of the careers of the students and the village, he said.

Angamba who led the DESAM team told reporters that government teachers posted in the schools of the area are engaging substitute teachers to do their duties.

Moreover they are misusing benefits meant for the students by submitting more number of students than the actual figure.

ZEOs are also swindling such funds in the name of UG groups.

Calling for immediate attention from the concern authority, he expressed his suspicion of a secret agenda to root out the government schools in the state.

He also appealed to the government not to politicize the transfer and posting policy of the teachers.

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