Dimapur, May 30 (EMN): A students' organisation in Tuensang district the Yimchungrü Akherü Arihako (YAA) has listed out a number of grievances about management and school infrastructure that the group said need redress.
The organisation offered updates from its month-long "education tour" that was undertaken from April 22 and till the 17th of May. The YAA issued a press release to the media on Thursday listing out some of its findings.
The organisation stated that it had visited educational institutions. Besides the "education sector," the group "surveyed" other developmental work, the press release stated.
The YAA iterated that it was firm on the “zero tolerance” policy for proxy teachers, and on the policy of “no work, no pay” to be enforced in all the schools in the group's area.
"With regard to those teachers undergoing professional course, no official communication/permission order was available in all the schools during the visit," the press release stated.
"Henceforth, YAA would construe those cases as ‘truant’ in the event of failure to produce office order. It was further resolved that those teacher keeping ‘proxy’ and ‘truant teachers’ would be dealt with punitive action as deemed."
The group observed also 'some unethical teachers’ who the organisation said perform their duty at their will. The YAA has asked those ‘not so interested teachers’ to resign immediately on moral grounds as the future of students cannot be compromised at someone’s whim and fancy.
'The YAA is of the view that introduction of biometric attendance in all govt. schools would go a long way in eradicating ‘proxy’ and enhance teachers’ regularity,' the press release stated.
Besides the menace of proxy teachers, there were acute shortage of teachers, particularly subject teachers, in almost all the schools the group visited, the press release stated. This factor is primarily responsible for the poor results and performance, the YAA stated.
'Lower primary or government primary schools being considered the foundation upon which the career of a child is build, (it) should be taken care of through proper guidance and instructions,' the organisation stated.
Another "prominent concern" from the schools was poor infrastructure including school buildings which were constructed in the "late 1960’s and the early part of 1970’s," the press release stated.
The YAA stated: "The schools (mostly GPS) are now haphazardly functioning in dilapidated and some in precarious condition. Therefore, the govt. should contemplate on constructing new school building, major repair and renovation works, class room extension, ample playground, separate office and staff room, library, laboratory and separate lavatory for boys and girls to create conducive learning environment which are a matter of great exigent."
The YAA observed also that the school management committees and communitisation programme in its current form was "moribund" due to 'loopholes, overlapping and curtailment of powers/responsibilities and duties between the department concerned and the community.'
This factor has resulted in poor management of the schools, the students' stated. The YAA was of the view that the communitisation programme should either be lifted and taken over by the department, or be reorganised.
"As YAA had witnessed that the community participation is very negligible/nil especially in the rural areas. Therefore, community mobilization at the grass-root level in the form of sensitization/awareness program is imperative as ‘quality education’ can never be achieved without community participation," the press release stated.
Another issue that the YAA raised was that some individuals are clandestinely holding multiple offices of profit, engaged in both government and private sectors, or in different department or districts.
"YAA has seriously viewed the matter as ‘illegal’ and shall not tolerate such practices and ask all concerned to voluntarily resign on their own immediately," the organisation cautioned.
The organisation has asked the authorities to redress said issues.
"YAA is hopeful that the department concerned would take in cognizant of the points mentioned therein and initiate necessary remedial measures in bringing about a ‘paradigm shift’ in educational system," the press release read.
