Jiri students make do with mats
Source: The Sangai Express

Jiribam, October 20 2022: Even as the State Government has been trumpeting its flagship initiative School Fagathansi Mission, students at a Government high school in Jiribam are attending classes sitting on mats.

Jirighat High School, one of the few Government schools in Jiribam district, has no desks and benches for the students to sit on.

This pathetic condition of the school came to light when volunteers of Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) went to inspect it today.

Inside the classrooms, young children in uniform were seen sitting on plastic mats with their teachers.

Jiri students make do with mats

Even though the Headmaster of the school had reportedly informed and asked the Zonal Education Officer (ZEO) of the region for assistance and provisions for needful infrastructure, none have been provided till today, said DESAM Jiribam District Council president L Bilaksh Meetei during a press meet held at the alliance's office at Babupara, Jiribam.

When education is greatly transforming in this age, the condition of the school at Jiribam shows that the Government is not giving due attention to bring about quality education in the State, he said.

DESAM and others since years have been demanding the Government to provide proper infrastructure at all schools in the State.

However, the Government, despite launching its School Fagathansi Mission, has failed to deliver on its promises and ambitions, alleged DESAM volunteers.

There may be many more schools in the far flung areas of Manipur which lack even the basic infrastructure.

The Government, without waiting for student organisations to expose, should do the needful and provide adequate infrastructure in all schools, added the volunteers.

School Fagathansi Mission without even desks and benches for the students to sit on will fail terribly, they said.

DESAM would continue to inspect Government schools, they added.

DESAM organisation secretary Th Santosh, executive member H Shivraj were also present in the press meet.