Shortage of teachers, students’ bad economic condition blamed for poor show
HT Bureau
DIPHU, Sept 13: The lack of sufficient teachers and students from financially weak background coming from remote areas are reasons for zero performance of Menmiji High School in last HSLC examination, the teachers informed the Executive Member (EM), Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), Education, Richard Tokbi during his visit to the school.
The EM was on a tour in West Karbi Anglong as part of his campaign for quality education – Mission, 2025.
Tokbi visited Menmiji High School to know the reason for zero performance in the last HSLC examination. In the last HSLC examination, 31 students appeared for the exam, but none passed.
A comparison of previous six years HSLC results of the school shows in 2016, out of 38 appeared, only 8 passed. 2 secured second division and 3 in third with 21.05 pass percentage. In 2017 out of 58 that appeared, only 6 passed in the third division with 10.34 pass percentage. In 2018 out of 33 that appeared only 5 passed. Of which 1 secured first division, 1 second and 3 third divisions with a pass percentage of 15.15. In 2019 out of 23 that appeared only 1 passed with 4.35 pass percentage. In 2020 out of 22 that appeared only 8 passed. In 2021 the school received a record of cent percent pass percentage with 34 that appeared all passed.
The total enrollment of students is 106. There are 42 students to appear for the HSLC examination, 2022-23.
The headmaster Humson Timung informed the EM about the shortage of teachers as only eight teachers including two Karbi Language Teachers (KLT) are teaching the whole classes of Class IX and X. Timung told the EM that 9 posts are vacant. There are no Math, Science and Hindi teachers and to fill up the gap the KLT teachers are taking Hindi and Assamese classes as well.
The headmaster also informed the EM that the maximum number of students are from remote areas like Jirikindeng. These students stay in rented rooms or stay as domestic helps in other homes to come to school.
Ratul Mahanta, who teaches Math for high school, said 4 posts of graduate teachers and 4 intermediate posts and one contractual Math teacher appointed by the government are vacant. As there is a dearth of teachers Mahanta has to take Math classes for the ME section.
The KLT teacher Silla Teronpi, appointed by the KAAC to teach Karbi subject said, “As there are no sufficient teachers and apart from my Karbi subject I have to take Hindi classes also. Another KLT teacher Juli Rongpipi apart from teaching Karbi subjects also has to take Assamese classes.”
For good performance the EM has suggested for conversation of the school from Assamese to English medium.
During his morning visit, the EM visited Kheroni Green LP School with the problem of classrooms as nursery class children have to sit on the floor to learn their lessons. He asked the headmaster and SMC to close down the backside of the school. Due to stagnant water students get diarrhea, one of the teachers Kiron Chauhan informed.
The EM also visited Kheroni Green High School (Recognised) and Kheroni Green ME School (Recognised). Though the schools received financial aid from the government, the temporary buildings of the schools are old. The EM assured to provide infrastructure for the two schools. He also visited Kheroni Girls high school and Kheroni high school and met with the teachers for better performance of the schools.
Later, the EM also visited Rangsina high school, Langmepi, Langmepi LP School and Waisong high school, Priloo and enquired about the needs and problems of the schools. He asked the teachers to give their energy and time to students in getting better results.
