Post News Network
Kendrapara, July 26: Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), an initiative launched by the Centre intending to educate all the children of the country, has failed to serve its purpose in several government schools of the remote areas in the district.
As the district headquarter is far from the coastal pockets, it makes difficult for the senior officials to visit the schools and take stock of the situation regularly. Taking advantage of the situation, teachers engaged in the schools most of the time do not attend the schools, particularly during rainy season. Lack of proper roads is the prime reason attributed to the teachers’ attitude, it is reported.
Locals cook mid-day meal (MDM) while youth conduct classes to educate the students in absence of teachers.
Vekta Prathamika Vidyalaya, in Rangani gram panchayat of Rajnagar block has three teachers to teach 165 students. However, most of the time, the school is run by a single teacher. Tapaswini Bhuiyan, the cook, who has been entrusted for preparing MDM, was recently found taking class as a couple of teachers were absent. Surprisingly, one of teachers has engaged a local youth Nalini Kanta Das to conduct classes.
A couple of days back, residents noticed students of Pravati Primary School cleaning the verandah after taking MDM on the instructions of a school teacher.
Similar is the situation at Garta Nodal Primary school, which has six teachers to teach 240 students from Class I to Class VIII. But most of the time, the school teachers remain absent without taking prior permission. Recently, CRCC of Talachua during his visit to said school found three teachers absent from the duties without taking leave.
When contacted, sub-collector of Kendrapara, who is also incharge DPC of SSA, Kanhu Charan Dhir, said the matter has come to his notice. He will ask Rajnagar block education officer to conduct an inquiry into the matter and would take action against the errant teachers, he added.