Editorial
Managing body fracas in schools
Why must students suffer?
Academic activities of a village high school in Lalmonirhat remains suspended for the last one week following disputes over formation of a controversial managing committee. School authorities have kept the class rooms locked up. As a result, nearly 300 children cannot attend classes. They come to school everyday but go back without taking any classes. The students or their guardians failed to get any reasonable answer either from the headmaster of the school or any other teacher regarding abrupt closure of the institution.
The dispute arose when the headmaster of the school recently formed the school managing committee from his chosen people from outside the locality for his personal interest. As tension mounted in the area, the headmaster and other teachers are absenting to avoid the rage of the locals; hampering normal schooling of the children.
Reports of influence peddling and highhandedness of the school managing committees in districts and rural areas are nothing new. Powerful people, who mostly figure in the local school committees, wield their influence to run the affairs of school according to their will.
From appointment of teachers and staff to managing of school funds, they try to wrest control over all matters. In most of these schools less competent people get precedence over genuine applicants for teaching or other positions. Alleged mismanagement of school development and teachers benefit funds is also a regular feature in these schools.
These conditions need to be addressed with seriousness. The education ministry and local authorities concerned should monitor the actions of the governing bodies and the school administration to ensure smooth running of the institutions. Hapless students should not suffer for the unscrupulous elements that sneak into the governing bodies of these schools.
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