What makes it Haryana’s zero per cent school

Nitish Sharma

Tribune News Service

Ambala/Chandigarh, May 22

With all 10 students of Government High School, Bhurangpur, flunking the Class X Haryana school board exams, the school has earned itself the dubious distinction of zero per cent result. The students are disheartened, the teachers  stunned while the School Education Department wants an “explanation”.

Geeta,16, the daughter of a daily-wager, is bewildered. “There were no teachers throughout the academic session. Rather, staff for the junior classes helped us with our lessons. It still hasn’t sunk in that I have failed and my school has zero per cent result,” she says.

Not only are there no teachers for Classes IX and X, the school has had no headmaster since March. Equipment for the school’s science laboratory is lying packed in cupboards for want of a teacher. School in-charge Jasbir Kaur says repeated requests for teachers for senior classes have gone unheeded.

 “I can’t remember the last academic session when we had post-graduate teachers for these classes. We took classes by turns, but clearly, that hasn’t been enough. We had expected five of the 10 students to perform reasonably well. The result is shocking. Two of our students will apply for re-checking.”

The school, that has five teachers for junior classes, two of them guest teachers, had 36 per cent result last year with four of the 11 students passing the Class X exam and two  making it to the merit list. This session, eight of the total 13 students have been promoted to Class X even though teachers admit they aren’t up to the mark. 

Sudhir Kalra, Block Education Officer, Ambala city, says there have been complaints by villagers that the teachers are not giving their best. “An inquiry report has been sent to higher officials. Those at the block and district level do not have the authority to send teachers on deputation or make ‘adjustments’ despite being aware that posts of PGT are yet to be filled.”

‘Five should have passed’  

We had expected five of the 10 students to perform reasonably well. The result is shocking. Two of our students will apply for re-checking.  —Jasbir Kaur, School In-charge

Inquiry report sent: BEO

There have been complaints by Bhurangpur residents that the teachers are not giving their best. An inquiry report has been sent to higher officials. —Sudhir Kalra, BEO, Ambala