Khayang VA's altruistic endeavour aiding education of border kids
Source: Chronicle News Service / Oinam Mission

Imphal, October 24 2022: Amid reports of government schools in far flung areas of the state unable to live up to the public's expectation to provide proper education to the future pillars of the society, a government upper primary school located near the Indo-Myanmar border in Kamjong district is delivering education to children of around 15 border villages through an altruistic endeavour of the village authority and church.

Government schools located in far flung areas are often victims of government apathy, lack of proper infrastructure, irresponsibility of teaching staff posted in those schools and poor road connectivity.

However, the story of Khayang Government Upper Primary School in Khayang village of Kamjong district is quite different from others.

Located in the Indo-Myanmar border area of the district at a distance of about 175 km from Imphal and around 90 km from Ukhrul town along the Shirui road, Khayang is a small village of Tangkhul community with a total population of around 280 people.

Bereft of good road, connectivity and modern infrastructure, the village is no different from any other far-flung villages of the state.

However, the school located in the village is shining as a beacon of inspiration for many.

During a recent visit as part of RD&PR minister Yumnam Khemchand's inspection tour of PMGSY roads, The People's Chronicle found the school providing proper education to children of around 15 villages in the area including four Kuki villages.

In the absence of any other government schools in the nearby areas, the school in Khayang village is the only educational institution for the border villages.

Interestingly, the village authority and local church are supporting the education of the students by constructing accommodation facilities for children coming from other villages.

According to Khayang village chief AS Wungam, residential education facility is provided to children from other villages free of cost.

Ration is also provided almost free of cost by collecting only the transportation charge from the parents as the village authority has to buy ration either from Ukhrul or Imphal.

Despite ensuring the basic facilities, one shortcoming that the students is facing is lack of educational institutions in the nearby area for pursuing further study after completing class 8 .

Expressing concern over the situation, AS Wungam drew attention of the government to upgrade the school to a high school so that the students could complete class X in the school before leaving for Ukhrul or Imphal to pursue higher studies Headmaster of the school told TPC that there are 11 teachers in the school including five from the valley.

The school has over 170 students, he said while thanking the village authority and local church for sponsoring the accommodation and ration of students coming from other villages, who otherwise could not attend school due to limitation in transport facility.

He also said that the village authority and villagers show warm hospitality to the teachers.

On the other hand, minister Y Khemchand was impressed by the philanthropic activities of the village authority and local church for ensuring education of children of the village and its surrounding areas.

The minister provided 40 beds, 60 mattresses and bedsheets as well as pillows to the school.

Despite the government's recent School Fagathansi Mission, hundreds of government schools in far flung areas are still hoping for attention from the government and improving their infrastructure.

Education being one of the most important sectors, upgrading the upper primary school to high school would be a great step from the government towards developing the education sector, especially in the interior parts of the state.

Comment