Eastern Sumi Students’ Union (ESSU) has urged the Department of School Education (DoSE) to address the shortage of teachers and classrooms, and poor infrastructure at Government Higher Secondary School Aghunato and Government Middle Schools at Aghiyili and Akhakhu.
In a representation to principal director of DoSE, ESSU president Ghuvika Yeptho and general secretary Viloka Zhimo alleged that though Aghunato GHSS had higher number of students in the area, posts of teachers for certain major subjects like Science, Maths, English, Hindi, etc. were lying vacant for long on account of retirements and transfers with no replacement.
They further stated that children eager to pursue education were facing numerous challenges due to shortage of classrooms, limited furnishing and also lack of basic facilities.
While highlighting the issue of poor infrastructure at Aghunato GHSS, which covered 52 villages, they alleged that the school building was in deplorable condition, adding the most of the windows, doors and wall were either broken or missing, thereby endangering the lives of students and teachers. Even toilets lacked proper doors, they added.
Claiming that Aghiyili and Akhakhu GMS were among the good performing schools, ESSU however said the schools were functioning without any teacher, thereby depriving the students of their right to education. They lamented that DoSE showed no seriousness in resolving these issues despite repeated appeals by ESSU. They urged the department to address the issues on priority.