Kendrapara: Two teachers engaged in a primary school remain absent most of the time, leaving a proxy teacher to handle the affairs.
Jokia primary school in Akhua Dakhini panchayat in Patkura tehsil has 46 students from Class I and Class V. Headmaster Bishnu Charan Panda proposed to the school managing committee to engage another teacher as it has become an uphill task for him and an assistant teacher to teach five classes.
On the committee’s green signal, Panda engaged Manashi Behera as a proxy teacher with a monthly remuneration of Rs 1,500.
However, since Manashi joined the school, Panda has stopped coming to the school, alleged Abhaya Behera, president of the school managing committee.
Panda shows up only twice a week that too only for an hour and never takes classes, said Manashi.
Nimai Behera, the assistant teacher, also remains off duty most of the time, alleged Srikant Giri, a guardian.
Though the school has a toilet, students are not allowed to use it as Behera has reportedly locked it. It is used by Behera and his family, claimed the students.
Midday meals served to students here are of substandard quality. “The headmaster exerts pressure on me to stay mum about it,” Tamasa Muduli, the cook alleged.
The school managing committee has lodged a complaint with collector Reghu G against the two teachers.
“The matter has come to my notice. I have directed the district education officer to start an inquiry and submit a report. If the teachers are found guilty, action would be taken against them,” said the collector. PNN
