Education a casualty as holding roll call their only concern

Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, January 25

Primary and secondary education in the Bhatrochkhan area of Bhikiasain block of Almora district has become defunct for poor students of the villages. Teachers reach schools after covering a distance of 100 km and return to their bases by evening. The situation has resulted in not only non-completion of syllabus but also leading to closure of the schools before time. The teachers come only to mark the attendance in the school and return in hurry without teaching the students.

Residents of Machor, Totam, Danpo, Siniyura and Marchula area of the district in a memorandum submitted to Almora DM alleged that teachers come to the primary schools situated in their area from nearby towns of Ramnagar, Jaspur, Kashipur and Haldwani, which are 60 to 100 km from these schools. “The teachers who do not prefer to reside in the villages despite government’s orders, start returning after marking attendance and never care to teach or complete the syllabus,” said Puran Kargati, a statehood fighter and social worker.

According to public representatives from the area, due to this tendency of teachers, the guardians have started sending their wards to private schools while the poor students are still suffering from this neglect by teachers. “Similar situation prevails in entire Bhikiasain block as most of the teachers come to their schools from a distance of more than 50 km and return immediately after marking attendance in register,” said Himani Nainwal, block Pramukh of Bhikiasain in Almora district.

The District Education Officer of Almora, when contacted, said the teacher had to stay in the radius of 8 km from the school. Action would be taken against erring officials and teachers, he said. “We have ordered the BDO to inquire and if any complaint is find correct, action will be taken against the employee,” said AK Singh, District Education Officer of Almora.