Jajpur/Korei: Private schools have illegally mushroomed in various parts of this block in Jajpur district in violation of government guidelines sans proper infrastructure, a report said Wednesday. Such schools are only increasing in number day by day due to lack of any action on part of the district and block administration. This has only emboldened the authorities of these schools to operate their institution with impunity. It is alleged that most of these schools do not have proper infrastructure but have managed to operate by greasing the palms of some unscrupulous officials of Education department.
Allegations are rife that the officials never visit these schools to make a proper inspection of available infrastructure but hand over a certificate of recognition (CoR) to the authorities in exchange for a bribe.
Moreover, there are schools operating without a CoR or proper infrastructure but no action is being taken against them. Earlier, the joint director of the Education Department had issued a show-cause notice to the schools which were lacking CoR and directed the district education officers to take action against them.
However, the order has been confined to only pen and paper and still remains to be implemented. According to reports, there are over 40 such schools functioning in Korei block. Most of these schools are functioning without having the minimum facilities of drinking water, playground, toilets, and necessary classrooms. Moreover, most of the teachers do not have the requisite qualification and training.
As a result, the bonhomie between the school authorities and some officials of the Education department is doing more harm than good to the students and pushing their future into darkness. What is more surprising is that some of these schools are illegally functioning on government land while the authorities have managed to get a CoR by submitting records of private land held by them or their kin. This has happened as the block education officer and officials of the district education office never visit the area where the school is functioning to verify the available infrastructure or the land records submitted by the school authorities. Residents of Andhari panchayat under the block have lodged several complaints against many schools operating on government land. However, their pleas are yet to be addressed. Locals have alleged that a particular school is running for past several years without having the necessary CoR and infrastructure.
Moreover, it has appointed some inexperienced teachers to teach the students and charging hefty sum from the guardians towards admission and school fees. The villagers have lodged several complaints against this particular school’s owner but without any success, as he is hand in glove with the officials of the Education department. They have demanded a proper inquiry into their allegation and action against the culprits. While the private schools are mushrooming in this block, the government schools having trained teachers are struggling for survival. When contacted, additional BEO Ashok Ray said that action will be taken after receiving an order from the authorities of the Education Department.