Neglected, Jiri schools stare at grim prospect

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jul 3: Already affected by the current Manipur conflict, the only two Government higher secondary schools in Jiribam district may "shut" soon if no immediate actions are taken up to revive them, said sources.
The Jiribam Higher Secondary School and the Borobekra Higher Secondary School were once among the best performing Government schools. Now, in absence of timely intervention of the Government and the department concerned, these schools are slowly fading away facing severe shortage of staff and infrastructure.
Both the schools have no regular Principal and no adequate number of teachers at present
Facing severe shortage of staff, available teachers at the Jiribam Higher Secondary School are also performing the duties of a clerk.
The severe shortage of teachers has been caused by transfer of teachers without sending replacement, said sources.
Further, extended leave of teachers from Imphal and other distant places has also left the school paralysed.
Compounding the problems facing the school, it is also functioning as a relief camp and housing internally displaced persons.
Despite repeated appeals, the relief camp has not been  shifted to another viable location. This has hindered school activities and created an adverse atmosphere affecting teaching-learning outcome, said the sources.
Similarly, the Borobekra Higher Secondary School too has no regular Principal and is facing severe shortage of teachers.
There is not a single teacher of Chemistry subject, and only one teacher is available for most of the other subjects.
Transfer of teachers without replacement is the reason for the shortage. Some of the teachers too are seemingly using the current conflict as a reason and not attending physical classes, claimed some sources including locals. Some classes for XI and XII students are being conducted online and teachers are providing them notes, but this will not be enough for the students to appear in examinations. The students need physical classes. Online classes are not reliable and should only be short term measures to address closure of schools during conflict, added the sources.
It will be very difficult to revive the schools if no immediate actions are taken up to resolve the issues, they said.