Bhanjanagar: Three schools in Bhanjanagar block in Ganjam district will be converted into smart schools and a sum of Rs 1.65 crore will be spent on their infrastructure development.
However, local residents are not in favour of the government spending so much money on the schools’ infra development. According to them, filling up of vacant posts in schools should take precedence over developing infrastructure.
Badakodanda Jawahar High School, Gallery High School and Bhanjanagar Adarsha Vidyalaya in Bhanjanagar block will be transformed into smart schools. For this, each school has received Rs 45 lakh under the Mo School Abhiyan. Badakodanda Jawahar High School and Gallery High School have received an additional sum of Rs 15 lakh each, thanks to the efforts of Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh. This assistance was provided from the grant Bhanjanagar block received from the state Finance Commission.
A total of Rs 1.65 crore will be spent on the three schools’ infrastructure development. If required, there is possibility of more money being pumped in.
Once completed, these smart schools will have two special classrooms, one e-library, modern toilets and a play ground. The construction work is going on in full swing. In phases, other schools will also be converted into smart schools.
According to local residents, the state government is not concerned about filling up vacant posts of teaching staff as it is about developing the infrastructure of the schools.
Corroborating their view, the villagers said that there are 27 such high schools in Bhanjanagar block that do not have adequate teaching and non-teaching staff.
Upendra Bhanj High School, the oldest institution in Bhanjanagar block established in 1884, has only eight teachers. A high school should have a minimum of 12 teachers. Such shortage of teachers is proving to be detrimental for students’ education and learning process.
While the process of filling up of vacant posts has reportedly been started, a stop-gap arrangement has been made for the time being. Primary school teachers are going to staff-starved high schools on deputation. The primary school teachers with BEd qualification have been sent to high schools. Once the vacant posts are filled up, they will return to their own schools.
In the event of no third wave of Covid-19, offline classes will be allowed at primary schools. And if they are allowed to hold physical classes and their teachers do not return from the high schools by that time, it will give rise to another problem.
Local residents urged the government to fill up the vacant posts on a priority basis.
PNN