Odisha Government Playing with Children’s Future

About a couple of months back there was a big outcry of horror and disbelief when
successive incidents of Maoist violence broke out in Sundargarh district. Newspapers
flashed every detail in catchy headlines (One more district slips into….) and political
leaders cried hoarse over deteriorating law and order. Now an animated debate is taking
place in social circles on what could be the prime cause of such developments.

Without going too deep into the complex socio-economic factors like mining,
industrialization, tribal displacement, lack of development and so on, one glaring area that
is visible to the naked eye is the total collapse of the education system, particularly in the
rural and tribal areas. The Government schools which cater to 95% of the child population
are simply not functional, never mind the tall claims of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.
Undaunted, the govt. goes on adding to the woes of the hapless children.

Sample this:
1. During 2008-09 the School & Mass Education Department decided to open High
Schools in all Panchayats having no High School. Accordingly Class VIII was
started in 52 UP/ME Schools of Sundargarh, but not a single additional teacher or
infrastructure was added. This year Govt have issued orders to start Class IX in all
the 52 schools. (Order No VIII(A)SME(HM) 1/2009 , Dt. 20/5/2009 by Addl.
Secy., School & Mass Education Deptt.). Sure enough, Class IX was started in 52
schools. TILL DATE NO TEACHER OR INFRASTRUCTURE.
2. Again orders were issued to start Class-VIII in as many as 500 U.P.Schools of the
district from current academic session in order to include Class VIII in the
elementary section, as in other states. It affects more than 10,000 students.
AGAIN NO TEACHERS, NO INFRASTRUCTURE.
3. Normally opening of higher classes in rural schools should be considered a
welcome step. But without a single extra teacher or a rupee of investment, it is a
cruel joke being played on our poor rural children by a callous and uncaring
government, violating their fundamental rights to education and an equitable
share in state spending.
4. The Govt. itself has prescribed certain very essential pre-requisites to be fulfilled
before starting class-VIII, without which recognition is not granted. For example,
we need adequate classrooms, Trained Teachers in Science (PCM & CBZ),
Classical Teacher, Hindi Teacher, Science laboratory & equipments etc. But when
the govt. does it, no norms apply. A clear case of applying double standards.
.
Annual Examinations are barely 2 months away. This has caused distress
and strong resentment among guardians, children and citizens. Sundargarh
Education Society (SES) has attempted to raise the issue at various levels and draw
attention of concerned authorities. Primary education in the rural areas is already in
a shambles, more so in this tribal dominated district. We already have chronic
problems like shortage / wrongful distribution of teachers, their absenteeism and
non-academic engagement, non-functional community bodies like VEC, PTA, MTA
etc, total lack of official monitoring and supervision, and so on. And now this
thoughtless addition of extra classes.

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 In various forums of guardians and citizens held at district and block levels
we have:
 Appealed to the Collector and other Education officials to move the
state authorities and arrange immediate appointment of 1000
teachers and necessary infrastructure.
 Lobbied with people’s representatives of the district for raising the
issue at State Govt. level for early solution
 Petitioned the National Commission for Protection of Child
Rights (NCPCR) for immediate intervention and prevention of
gross violation of poor tribal children’s rights to quality education.
 A public awareness campaign (Shiksha Bachao Abhiyan) was
launched supported by the local print media to build pressure on the
authorities for early remedial steps.

NO SIGN OF ANY SOLUTION OR EVEN OF RECOGNITION OF THE

PROBLEM WAS VISIBLE FROM ANY QUARTERS. SO MUCH FOR THE
GOVERNMENT’S CONCERN FOR CHILDREN’S FUNDAMENTAL
RIGHT TO EDUCATION.

As the last resort, in view of imminent annual examinations, Sundargarh Education

Society in consultation with local citizens’ groups decided to approach the Hon’ble
High Court with all the facts and pray for intervention.

Accordingly all relevant details were collected from the education department
through RTI and a PIL was filed by SES President Janmejoy Patel in the Orissa
High Court ( W.P. (C) 16380 of 2009 dated 30/10/2009) praying for direction to
the State Government to immediately provide adequate number of teachers and
other requirements to all the schools. The petition is pending before the Hon’ble
High Court.

Janmejoy Patel, President

Sundargarh Education Society
At/PO: Mahesdihi
Dist: Sundargarh-770001
M-9937702126
e-mail: sesindia@gmail.com

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