IMPHAL, May 9: A public meeting on the Right to Education (RTE) held at the Faija Jr. High School located at Minuthong Hatta of Imphal East called the attention of the concerned authority over the lack of facilities at the school. The junior high school incidentally has the maximum of students in the area with 210 students reading in classes I to VII.
The public meeting was attended by representatives of the Manipur Muslim Welfare Organization (MMWO), guardians of students of the school and the staff led by the Head Master of the school.
Speaking at the meeting, Abdullah Pathan, President of MMWO said that the nature of shortages being faced by the students of the school starts with no chairs and other items of furniture including desks and benches being provided for the school. Pointing out that there is no toilet for the students in the co-education school, Abdullah Pathan said that even though the current academic session is going on, the government has not provided school uniforms and text books for the students as mandated under the Sarva Siksha Abiyaan.
The problems being faced by students of the school is contrary to the policy of Right to Education of the state government, he said and appealed to the concerned department of the Government of Manipur to look into the matter.
Tingsanglung Palmei, Head Master of the School said that there were not even blackboards and expressed his dissatisfaction saying that though plans for the school fencing worth Rs. 28 lakhs was mooted, it has not been implemented as yet.He pointed out that the wall of the school along the main road of Hatta Minuthong is only a bamboo structure.
The guardians present on the occasion appealed to the state government to look into the shortages of the school in the interest of the students.