Class rooms turned into pan shops
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 01 2011: In a major setback compounded by an arrogant mockery of the noble scheme of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), which is being taken up across the country under the Right to Education Act with the grand vision of ensuring free and compulsory education to all children, some class rooms built under the same scheme have been turned into pan shops.

A pan shop converted from a class room was discovered during a survey conducted by the MSF along with a media team today.

Class rooms of Sinam Primary School located under Khundrakpam AC in Imphal East district seems to have abandoned by the authority and left to the whims of some people.

The whole RCC structure was built in the form of a single room.

Neither doors nor windows have been fitted.

It may sound strange but the class room has no furniture or black-board.

Yet, the class room has a pan shop near the southern hollow portion where there should be a window.

As against 70 students enrolled in the school, there are only two teachers.

There are no other staff.

Though benefits of Mid-Day Meal Scheme are provided to the school, other study materials like books, exercise books, pencils, rain-coats, satchels and schools uniforms for the current academic session have not been provided till date except for seven satchels and a few books.

In spite of being a co-educational school, it does not have any proper toilet.

In the absence of any compound fencing, the school compound and the verandah have turned out to be suitable grounds for cattle and other animals.

Animal dungs and other excretas were observed on the verandah.

Talking to the visiting survey team, the Head Mistress said that they face great difficulties as only two of them, including her have to teach and look after 70 students.

"With no peon or chowkidar, we can do hardly anything to keep the school in any fine shape", she said.

The Headmistress said that they approached the local MLA to post adequate number of teachers and staff but nothing has come out of the repeated appeals.

The MSF and the media team also visited Sinam Kom Government UJB School at Sinam Kom Village under Saikul AC.

This school too receives Mid-Day Meal Scheme benefits but no study materials provided under SSA.

It has 60 students and seven teachers.

Out of the seven teachers appointed under Autonomous District Council, six teachers attend school once or twice in a month.

"With no peon or chowkidar, we can do hardly anything to keep the school in any fine shape", she said.

The Headmistress said that they approached the local MLA to post adequate number of teachers and staff but nothing has come out of the repeated appeals.

The MSF and the media team also visited Sinam Kom Government UJB School at Sinam Kom Village under Saikul AC.

This school too received Mid-Day Meal Scheme benefits but no study materials provided under SSA.

It has 60 students and seven teachers.

Out of the seven teachers appointed under Autonomous District Council, six teachers attend school once or twice in a month.

They hired local people to teach students as their substitutes.

Mapao Keithelmanbi Christian Government School had similar woeful tales.

Against 94 students enrolled in the school, there are only seven teachers.

In view of the acute shortage of teachers, governing body of the school have hired five additional teachers.

To pay salaries for the hired teachers, the governing body has been collecting monthly tuition fees of Rs 100 to Rs 140 per student according to their class.

MSF president Laishram Ibomcha who led the inspection team said that Government's total lack of concern for the education sector has been confirmed by what they observed in some schools located in Imphal East district and Saikul sub-division.

Failure to provide study materials, lack of physical infrastructure, shortage of teachers, irregularity on the part of teachers and collection of tuition fees from students who should be provided free education are very regrettable.

He demanded that the Government should take this matter with all seriousness and take up necessary remedial measures without any further delay.

He added that MSF would continue with the school inspection campaign.

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