Zila school exists only on paper

FORBESGANJ: Not only all the studentsbut also the principal and a number of other teachers of Shanti Devi DheerNarayan Government High School in Forbesganj were found to be absent from theschool when sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) M M Zeya made a surprise inspectionrecently.At the time of inspection, only three teachers were present inthe school which has got the status of a zila school. Its only clerk and peonwere also found to be absent.The SDM, in his report to Araria DM Mani KantAzad, said that the school seems to be running on paper only and that a largenumber of the local people do not even know that a zila school is being run inthe town.He recommended a stern action against the erring teachers andother staff members as the very purpose of the government to establish a zilaschool is defeated due to them.On the basis of the SDM’s report, theAraria DM, in a letter to the director of secondary education, has narrated thedeplorable condition of the school and recommended for suspension of the erringteachers and other staff members and a departmental inquiry againstthem.Founded in 1987, the school has got only two rooms and an equalnumber of half-constructed rooms which have been roofless for the last 14 years.The absence of any toilet in the school forced girl students to quit theinstitution.The SDM, in course of his inspection, apprehended grossirregularities in the construction work as building materials brought to theschool campus in 2001 simply disappeared.Earlier, late R Lall, MLC, hadallotted Rs 20,000 to the school for the construction of toilets but the workwas never taken up. The school has no boundary wall.In course of theinspection, attendance registers, emergency leave register and other recordswere not shown to the SDM. He was told that the principal was not present andthe keys of the locks were with him.Only one register was available whichcontained the names of 116 students of class VIII.The SDM, in his report,said that the help of the local people is needed for the renovation of theschool.