Imphal, February 19: Even as the Government of India has been making an endeavour to provide free and compulsory education to all children upto the age of 14 years, a Govt school in the Tamenglong district headquarters has been charging exorbitant fee from the students for hiring science and mathematic teachers as the State Govt has not posted any teachers for the two subjects.

The matter came to light during a inspection visit paid by DC, Tamenglong along this reporter to the said school today.

During the course of the inspection it has been confirmed that the school authority has been charging anywhere between Rs 200 to Rs 400 as admission fee from the students and the amount being used for paying salary to the hired teachers.

There are in all 186 students studying in class KG to VIII and each of the hired science and mathematic teachers are paid Rs 1800 as salary per month.

It is said that the school is being run in this manner for the last many years as the Govt has not posted the required teachers.

Headmaster in-charge of the school Soubunang Gangmei justified charging more fee from the students and said it is to ensure that the students get proper education on science and mathematic since the Govt has not done anything.

'If this is the condition of a school located in the district headquarters, imagine what it would be like for those located in the remote and far flung areas?, he posed.

The students of the school were found mopping the floor of the school which have not been maintained properly by taking off the class for the day.

It was also learnt that as there are not enough class rooms to accommodate all the students and the kitchen constructed for the purpose of Mid-Day meal scheme is being used as class room.

The session of the school has been started but the students are yet to received the books to be provided free of cost under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) till date.

Meanwhile, sources disclosed that an action plan on the developmental works being taken up in Tamenglong district has been prepared on January 25.Accordingly the Departments concerned would submit the progress report of the related works to the Deputy Commission.

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