Keonjhar: The government spends crores of rupees to push education among tribal children through Ashram schools with free hostel accommodation, but studies have been paralyzed in such schools due to an acute shortage of teachers.
Even there are schools where peons play teachers while students fail to receive quality education.
According to reports, education in many schools run by the SC/ST welfare department has virtually collapsed for several factors, teachers’ crunch being the major one.
A case in point is the Girls’ High School at Basudevpur under Joda block. The school is plagued by a host of problems.
The Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) had set up the school on the banks of river Baitarani in 1971.
When construction work for the Kanpur mega irrigation project was undertaken at Basudevpur, the school was shifted to a place 3km away from there in 2013. Since then, Champua ITDA has allegedly not undertaken many works required for the school’s development.
The school has 380 students from Class IV to X, while 344 students avail hostel facility. Ironically, their studies are hit on a regular basis as only six teachers find it difficult to take all the classes. At least five more teachers are required to manage the classes smoothly.
It is alleged that most of the time peons have to impart education to children from Class IV to VIII.
Besides, the school has no playground while students alleged they are not served food as per menu. The food they get is of sub-standard quality.
Another allegation is that the headmaster plays truant most of the time without informing the higher authorities or project administrator of Champua ITDA.
Guardians and students demanded that immediate steps be taken to fill up vacancies and sort out the problems.
District social welfare officer Nityananda Das admitted that many schools face teacher crunch.
“Due to a stay order from a court, 78 teachers in various schools have not been appointed. A teacher is supposed to take upto 22 classes and a headmaster upto 14 classes a month. Peons need not teach students. As the headmaster is ailing, such a problem might have arisen. Nobody can stay on leave without permission. I will look into the mater,” he added. PNN
