A lesson from Mansa school

Amaninder Pal

Chandigarh: Here is a school located in one of most backward blocks of Punjab which defied all odds to script a success story: Government Senior Secondary, School, Kullrian in Mansa district. It has teacher strength poorer than in many schools. Against 48 sanctioned posts, only 26 are filled. All four posts of mathematics teachers were lying till December. Two of four posts of science teachers are lying vacant. Barring one commerce and vocational lecturer, all other posts of lecturers — physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, Punjabi, economics — are vacant. 

Despite all this, all 89 students, baring two, passed the Class XII exams. Thirteen students secured more than 80% marks. What is remarkable is that 11 students enrolled in the non-medical streams also passed the exam despite the fact that the school has no science teacher. 

“A social sciences teacher with a master's degree in pharmacy teaches chemistry. Two science teachers who are otherwise supposed to teach junior classes, teach mathematics and physics to Class XII students,” says a teacher.  “We don't rely only on teachers. Last year, we hired 13 persons, most of whom were old school students, on a contract basis at a nominal salary to teach all classes. After Class XII results every year, we request our 6-7 bright students to spend a couple months in the school to help weak students,” he said.