Primary education in a mess
SILCHAR, August 5: Endless allegations against the mismanagement and chaotic scenario prevailing in respect of primary education from different blocks of Barak Valley have become a common affair with no remedial action in sight from the authorities concerned. In one of the series of complaints by a civil body under the banner of ‘Sangrami Aikya Mancha’ of Patharkandi, it has been pointed out that primary education in the Patharkandi block of Karimganj district has been in a mess.
With facts and figures, the president of the Mancha, M A U Talukdar, has shown that in most of the LP and EGS (Education Guarantee Scheme) schools, there are no teachers. He has also identified these schools by their names and numbers. These are 421 Kurti LP School, 946 Dighirpar LP School, 931 Janglibasti LP School, 818 Balicherrapar LP School, 827 Tilbhum Hindi LP School, 550 Madhurband LP School, 1037 Janta LP School, 407 Harinagar LP School.
Continuing he also added to the list 900 Ratalala LP School, 740 Eralibul LP School, 721 Sizarilabad LP School, 836 Islampur LP School, 535 Kadamtilla LP School, 575 Bandarkona LP School and 1070 Lokkalyan LP School. Among the EGS Schools, he listed Uttarchagalmuwa, Borcherra, Sonatala, Mainamala, Banglatilla, Sonarpar and Alinagar. Besides, as he said the number of such LP and EGS schools is more. M A U Talukdar pointed out it is very strange that despite all the talks of reaching primary education to every child under Right To Education (RTE), the ground reality should be so disappointing. There has been no adjustment of teachers in the schools where vacancy exists and the government has formulated specific policy and guidelines in this respect, he added to say. These schools in question have been rather closed and the children of rural areas are deprived of their basic education.
The President further said if the block elementary education officer of the area has taken to rationalization in respect of adjustment of teachers, the problem could have been resolved. Schools would not have been without teachers. However, the former BEEO said even after adjustment, more than half of the schools in the block have remained without teachers. It has become a common phenomenon to run the schools by the managing committees by hiring teachers. But, the authorities concerned have never been serious about it. Sangrami Aikya Mancha has threatened to go for agitation if no concrete steps are taken to remedy the situation, considering the fact that at stake is the education and future of children.
Source: The Sentinel 06.08.2013
