Nuagaon: With none of the only two teachers in the school turning up for duty Saturday, the cook became the sole guardian away from home for the students of Badibari Sevashram, Badibari village of Jakeda panchayat under this block in Nayagarh district. This incident may not be the first of its kind in this part of the State, caused resentment among the parents and villagers.
Sources say, Badibari village school is a sevashram having five classes from Class I to Class V. While 11 students in total are studying in these five classes, two teachers have been appointed to manage the institution.
The villagers alleged that the teachers come to school in turn and there would be at least one teacher at the school. But Saturday, the students on reaching the school, waited till afternoon to being their morning prayers. They thought they might have reached the school earlier than their teacher, only later they realized that their clocks were working fine and it was time for the mid day meal.
When contacted, cook Hiramani Mallick said the teacher had phoned her to inform about his aching leg and that he would not be able to walk to school. “Thereafter, I took care of the students and served nine of them with mid day meal. Since last three days only one teacher had been coming to the school as the second teacher was on leave”, she further added.
Social welfare extension officer Malay Ranjan Chinara said, “I will call a meeting involving members of school management committee and the parents. The teachers will be punished for their dereliction of duties.” The cases of teachers truant are indeed becoming a common lingo.
PNN