School panel alleges fund misuse by headmaster in-charge
Source: Chronicle News Service

Thoubal, September 03 2022: While accusing former headmaster in-charge of Poiroukhongjin High School namely Potshangbam Koireng of misappropriating school development fund sanctioned by the state government, the School Management Committee (SMC) has urged government authorities to investigate into the matter and take up appropriate actions against the headmaster in-charge.

A joint meeting of the SMC, teachers, ZEO, students, parents and local elders along with members of local clubs and organisations was held on Saturday to discuss the present condition of the high school.

Interacting with the media after the meeting, SMC member L Kunjaraj said that the high school was selected for opening an Atal Tinkering Lab in 2019 under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme Atal Innovation Mission.

Consequently, the central government released Rs 12 lakh for the first phase for developing the lab and the same was withdrawn in the name of the school.

The matter came to light when some department officials paid an inspection visit following failure of submitting the utilisation certificate, he said.

The member also charged the former headmaster in-charge of misappropriat-ing funds for mid-day meal scheme, garden development, uniform distribution as well as siphoning off Rs 600 to 700 from each of the student's admission fee and collecting Rs 50 each from the students for ID card.

The SMC had asked him repeatedly to provide utilisation statement of the funds but he refused to give the relevant information, which raised the suspicion of possible fund misappropriation, he said, while drawing attention of the education department in this regard.

SMC convenor L Suva pointed out that the sanctioned strength of teaching staff in the school is 30, but there are only 12 teaching staff in the school, which has been selected for the government's School Fagathansi Mission.

The school has 617 students from class 1 to 10 and so the 12 teaching staff are facing a tough situation in ensuring academic progress in the school.

Andro MLA Th Shyamkumar revived the school by hiring teachers on his own expense to fill up the gap and encouraging the local people to send their children to the school.

However, the present situation has endangered the career and future of the students as there is not a single day the school is conducting full class.

There has been no class for Hindi and Home Science subjects due to lack of teachers.

Besides, there is only one teacher each for Science, Social Science, English, Mathematics and Manipuri subject which resulted in some classes missing regular class, he said, while drawing attention of the department for send ing the remaining teachers for the sake of students and their future.

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