Shillong: A storm of serious allegations has hit the Khaldang Ad-hoc Upper Primary School in Meghalaya’s North Garo Hills, with charges of massive corruption, mismanagement, and blatant abuse of power bringing the institution under a dark cloud. Social activist Greneth Sangma has formally lodged a complaint with the Director of Education, laying bare a litany of irregularities that paint a grim picture of rural education in the Garo Hills.
Once a beacon of learning, established in 1968 and gaining ad-hoc government recognition in 1978, the school’s student strength has plummeted to a mere 34, down from its former glory. This sharp decline is being attributed to a toxic mix of teacher misconduct and administrative failures, leaving the community reeling.
Sangma’s complaint pulls back the curtain on a host of alleged malpractices, including the unauthorised siphoning of government funds meant for the crucial mid-day meal scheme and teacher salaries. Furthermore, eyebrows have been raised over opaque recruitment processes, with appointments reportedly made off-campus at the Sub-Divisional School Education Officer’s (SDSEO) office, completely bypassing standard protocols.
Adding to the woes, the School Managing Committee (SMC) appears to have been sidelined, with hiring decisions allegedly made unilaterally by the president and secretary. Perhaps most distressing are the reports of student abuse, including a chilling incident where a student was allegedly forced to drop out after being physically assaulted by a teacher.
Villagers are up in arms after discovering that mid-day meals, a lifeline for many students, were served a measly 15 times in the first half of the year. The headmaster’s decision to store food rations at his personal residence instead of the school premises has not only flouted government norms but also deeply eroded community trust.
The current SMC, formed in 2022, has reportedly completed its term, yet its president and secretary continue to operate with apparent impunity. Despite repeated pleas from villagers to dissolve the committee and establish a new, accountable body, the SDSEO has allegedly stonewalled these demands, further inflaming public discontent.
A recent hearing following Sangma’s June 2 complaint saw police being called amidst rumours of unrest. Villagers were left aghast when the very president against whom the complaint was filed was present during the proceedings, only being removed after vociferous objections from the local community.
The school’s recruitment process, following the retirement of two teachers in March, has also come under intense scrutiny for its lack of transparency. Job vacancy notices were reportedly displayed only on the school notice board, removed after a mere three days, and conspicuously absent from newspapers or online platforms, leaving villagers in the dark even after attending a recruitment meeting.
The silence from the SDSEO, despite multiple calls and written appeals, has only deepened the crisis, eroding public faith in the education department and leaving the community feeling unheard and frustrated.
In response, Greneth Sangma and the local community are demanding swift action: the immediate suspension of those involved in wrongdoing, the dissolution of the current SMC and the formation of a neutral, elected body, a transparent and merit-based recruitment process, and regular audits and monitoring to safeguard student welfare and ensure adherence to norms.
Adding a powerful voice to the outcry, Malbina Marak, President of the Mother Union, highlighted the long-standing neglect of the L.P. and U.P. Schools, originally established during the tenure of former Speaker Late P.A. Sangma. She lamented the lack of repairs and improvements over the years, with only a single-room addition to show for decades of existence. Marak passionately appealed to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and Education Minister Rakkam Sangma to prioritise the renovation and upliftment of these vital educational institutions.
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