Patrapur: A headmaster at a primary school in Ganjam district has been suspended for closing the school ahead of scheduled hours, an act that also brought wider irregularities to light. Biswanath Pradhan, headmaster of Jagannathpur Primary School under Gundura panchayat in Patrapur block, was suspended following the incident Thursday.
Only six pupils turned up at the school that day. Citing the low attendance, Pradhan and other assistant teachers shut the school early, locked it and left before the scheduled closing time.
The matter came to the attention of the Block Education Officer (BEO) Sitaram Patra, who deputed local coordinator Sisthabhakta Sikhna and Assistant Block Education Officer (ABEO) Sushil Patra to inspect the school.
The two officials arrived at 2 pm and found the school already closed and reported the matter to the BEO. Based on the report, Pradhan was suspended under letter number 1253/26. Jagannathpur Primary School has 69 pupils on its rolls and five teachers.
Villagers alleged that while only six pupils were present Thursday, the midday meal attendance register recorded 66 pupils as present. Residents said similar practices were occurring at several schools in the block without coming to the notice of the BEO, ABEO or local coordinators.