Well, everybody is aware of the tall claims of massive transformation of several schools under the 5T initiative of the Odisha government. But developing infrastructure, installing new desks and replacing blackboards with smart boards don’t make students’ future. Do they...?
We are not telling this, but one can easily understand the ground reality after hearing the statements of these students.
“Transforming school is not enough. The government needs to know whether there are teachers in schools or not,” said a student of Mahamayi high school in Buguda block of Ganjam district.
Another student said, “There is only one teacher who teaches us Maths. We need to pass in all subjects and not only in Maths.”
“We will appear for the board exams in standard 9 and 10 and if we fail, only Odisha government will be responsible,” said another student.
There are 145 students in class 9 and 10 in the school. However, there is only one teacher while the post of eight teachers is lying vacant.
Keeping in view such precarious condition of the school, several old students are reportedly coming to the school to teach the students.
“In standard 9, we have 73 students and 72 students in class 10. Senior officials have assured us to provide us staff,” said Manoj Kumar Satpathy, Headmaster of Mahamayi high school.
Not only Ganjam, the state of affairs at Sapneswar Adivasi high school in Keonjhar district is also not up to the mark. Surprisingly, there is only one teacher for 110 students. The sole teacher teaches Sanskrit while there is no one to teach English, Science and Mathematics.
“Teaching 110 students is difficult and the studies of students are getting affected,” said Niranjan Das, the Headmaster-in-charge.
“The teacher teaches us Sanskrit and Odia but there is no one to teach us other subjects,” said a student.
Under such circumstances, the question remains what is the use of such infrastructure development when there are not adequate teachers to impart education as benches and desks will not come to the rescue of the students.
The high school at Chardia panchayat in Chandbali block of Bhadrak district boasts several banners and posters of Odisha government's 5T transformation and Mo School. But, surprisingly, this institution also has a single teacher as the posts of eight teachers are lying vacant.
“It seems that the Odisha government fails to understand that only painting schools is not enough and one needs to provide teachers. There should be three to four teachers against the sanctioned strength of eight teachers. The teaching process has almost been stalled,” alleged Kinuram Jena, a guardian.
Kulamani Jena, Headmaster of JP high school, said he is teaching Science and Maths to the students while an assistant teacher is there to assist him. But there are no teachers for Sanskrit and other subjects, he added.
Meanwhile, Chandbali additional block education officer said, “The process to fill up vacant teacher posts in 22 single teacher schools is underway.”