Tender-Aged Students Allegedly Engaged in Gardening Work at Government School in Gajapati
Bureau,Odishabarta
Gajapati: Allegations of open violation of government rules and norms by employees have surfaced in Gajapati district, with the Education Department reportedly facing serious criticism over the functioning of schools in remote areas.
Villagers have alleged that teachers posted in schools located in inaccessible areas are not attending school regularly and are instead coming to the schools on a rotational basis. It is further alleged that some senior officials of the department are extending support to such practices.
In several schools, teachers are also allegedly engaging students in gardening and other manual activities instead of focusing solely on their education. A glaring example has reportedly come to light at the Government Upper Primary School at Kumutipankal village under Purunapani Gram Panchayat in R. Udayagiri block.
According to villagers, teachers at the school allegedly remained without proper uniforms and engaged students in cutting grass with agricultural tools and planting trees within the school premises. Villagers have also alleged that students had earlier been engaged in planting maize crops.
Around 40 students are studying at the school, which serves children from several villages under Purunapani Gram Panchayat, including Kumutipankal, Malsingha, Naranpur, Padarbadi, Lunidihi, Baharatampa and Bhitaratampa.
Villagers have further alleged that teachers do not attend the school regularly and allegedly come in turns, raising concerns over the quality of education being provided to children in the remote area.
When contacted, the Block Education Officer of R. Udayagiri reportedly said that a CRC (Cluster Resource Coordinator) had been directed to visit the school and conduct an inquiry into the allegations.
Following the visit, the CRC reportedly conducted an inquiry at the school and assured villagers that such incidents would not be repeated in the future, according to local residents.
Gajapati district has received appreciation and awards from both the State and Central governments for its achievements and development in the education sector. However, the alleged incidents at the grassroots level have raised questions about the gap between official claims and the ground reality in some remote schools of the district.
The villagers have urged the authorities to ensure regular attendance of teachers, prevent students from being engaged in inappropriate manual work and take necessary steps to safeguard the quality of education in remote areas.
