DESAM inspects Government schoolsMeira Paibis finance Govt school

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, May 15: Even though the State Government supposedly took up many measures to improve the education system in the State, going so far as to even introduce schemes like 'Go to School', it has come to light that the Meira Paibis of the area where Wangoo Laipham Upper Primary School (Kakching) is located, have been raising money through Marup to engage the necessary teachers needed by the school as all appeals to the State Government to address the shortage of teachers have failed.
The shocking condition was discovered following an inspection visit by a 7 member team of DESAM led by its secretary general Sheetal Oinam at Kakching district today.
During the inspection, it was found that the school which has classes from I to VIII and more than 170 students, has only three teachers, including one Headmaster and  two teachers who were being utilised in another school.
According to the Management Committee of the school, the State Government has failed to address the shortage of teachers despite repeated appeals to do so, which has forced the committee to engage 10 teachers and 1 chowkidar for the school. The costs of engaging the said faculty amounts to around Rs 42000 per month and the cost is borne by the local Meira Paibis who have organised a Marup, called Purnima Marup, as well as donations from well wishers.
Apart from this problem, the school also lacks proper toilet and electricity facility as well as various other necessary infrastructures.
On the other hand, the team also visited Wangoo Higher Secondary School under Bishnupur district, and found that the school, which has classes from VI to XII, had only teachers for 2 subjects (out of a total of 10 Arts and Science steam subjects).
It is claimed that the State Government has failed to send the necessary teachers till date.
The students of the school, which was upgraded from High School to Higher Secondary on June  19, 2015, and recognised by COHSEM last year, are yet to start the syllabus of numerous subjects due to the alarming lack of teachers.
The school, which currently has 535 students, also lacks proper infrastructure and facilities and the students are studying in dust filled classrooms.
Additional 7 teachers were also engaged by the original teachers, guardians and the local MLA for the school and even though the ZEO concerned came many times to inspect the school, no positive steps can be seen till date.
On the other hand, the DESAM team also went to inspect Chairen Junior High School at Kakching district but found the school closed even in the afternoon.
As per the local people, not more than 5/6 students are seen at the school although it has 5-6 teachers. The lack of a chowkidar is also a problem in the school.
Speaking to media persons, Sheetal Oinam appealed to the State Government to look into the condition of the said schools at the earliest and also urged the authorities concerned to work for developing the education system in practice and not just in words.
 The inspection trip today was carried out as part of DESAM's mass reformation campaign on educational institution, he said adding that the campaign will continue further.