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Government schools in North-East India go decades without teachers, matriculates

Speed News Desk | Updated on: 31 August 2016, 19:29 IST
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India has a total of 11 million out-of-school children at the primary level, twice that of Pakistan. Isn't it good time to ask: Is this inclusive development?

Clearly, it isn't. Access to primary education is an elusive thing in India. More so if you belong to North-east India. For instance, Keviphe village, Nagaland's Kohima district. According to a report, the village has not produced a single matriculate till now.

The only government primary school in the village - established in 1978 - has only one teacher. A decade ago, there were two teachers, who were suspended due to irregularity.

Currently, there are only eight students and the lone teacher handles four classes (I-IV) daily. Though a memorandum was sent by the Village Education Committee to the school education department to recruit more teachers, no action has been taken till now.

The situation is similar in a government school at Kijumetouma, from where a teacher was transferred two decades ago. However, his replacement is still elusive. This school was established in 1958, but the student enrollment has been dropping steadily.

The consequence is terrible for many families. Parents are forced to send their kids to private schools in town, which costs much more. The failure of the government is unfortunately pushing these families to poverty.

First published: 31 August 2016, 18:31 IST