Kendrapara: As many as 30 students of Kataramal-based Panchayat Girls High School in Pattamundai block of Kendrapara district will be deprived of appearing for HSC examination commencing February 23 due to alleged carelessness of the school headmistress.
The girls are spending sleepless nights after they learnt that the education department has denied them permissions to sit in the exam.
The block grant school established in 1992 has been running under the supervision of the school managing committee comprising the relatives of the headmistress, Jitarani Swain. Moreover, the school has failed to meet the criteria and the guidelines set by the secondary education department. Swain disengaged four teachers and allegedly engaged her relatives in their place.
As a result, the director of secondary education in its office order no 206222 dated June 2,2015 withdrew its recognition and grant-in-aid to the school after the school failed to fulfill the conditions and criteria laid down under section 17-A of OE rules 1991 and section 11(3) and 7(D) of OE.Act 1969.
The letter directed the school authorities to not admit students from 2016. Those, who were studying in Classes IX and X were allowed to appear for HSC examinations in 2016 and 2017.
But, the letter had directed the school to provide transfer certificates (TCs) to Class VIII students who were admitted in 2015 for their admissions in other schools.
But the headmistress asked the students to not take TCs and assured guardians she would ensure students sit in HSC examination this year. The headmistress had the students to fill up forms for Class X examinations. Later, it was learnt that the education minister had rejected the proposal of the headmistress but she did not inform this to the students.
“The Board of Secondary Education had derecognised five block grant schools including this one. But the Board granted permission to the students of four other schools. Our school has been deprived though I requested the education minister and the Board authorities,” the HM said.
When contacted, District Education Officer Sangram Keshari Sahu put the blame on the HM. The problem has come due to the violation of the order of the director of secondary education department by the HM. Had she provided TCs to students, they would not have to suffer today, Sahu said.
If required a criminal case would be filed against the headmistress for violating the order of the education department. Meanwhile, the Board of Secondary Education has decided to provide an opportunity to these 30 students to appear for HSC supplementary examination. PNN
