Mismatch: Five teachers for one student in high school | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: Satyabrata Behera, a Class X student, often spends his school hours in the mango orchard instead of attending classes. It is not that he doesn’t want to study. But attending classes at Dandamukundapur High School in Puri district’s Basudeipur village as a lone student is a tedious task.
“I was alone in Class IX. After being promoted to Class X, I remained alone. I don’t enjoy attending classes,” said Satyabrata, whose father is an agricultural labourer.
But the staffroom was quite occupied with five women teachers, including the headmaster. The school, established in 1976, was initially a girls’ high school. But later it was converted to a co-educational institute a few years ago with classes of IX and X. With no fresh admissions in Class IX for the current academic session, the school is running with only one student, sources said.
Headmaster Banita Das said, “The admission process started on April 1 and will continue for a few more days. We are hopeful that some students will take admission in Class IX this year.”
Sources said that despite repeated efforts to persuade parents, with the help of school management committee, to send their children to enrol, the response has been disheartening. Most families prefer enrolling their children in nearby schools that have classes I to X, for the sake of continuity and convenience.
Das said that since it is difficult to cook midday meal for one student, the school has opted to provide dry food instead. “Till last year, the school had six students, including five in Class X. But after they appeared for matric exam, one student is left for the current academic session,” she added.
Puri district education officer (DEO), Deepak Padhi, said, “We proposed to the directorate of higher secondary education to close the school in 2023-24 under the rule of closing institutes with fewer than 20 students. But it did not happen. We have decided to shift the student to a nearby school. We have asked a teacher at the old school to ensure he is attending the new school. The teachers will be engaged in other schools according to their subjects and vacancies.”
However, the decision to close the school did not go down well with the villagers. “The school was constructed with so much effort from villagers. An institute should not be closed like this. Govt should have made some effort to revive the school,” said Pradyumna Subuddhi, a resident.
Bhubaneswar: Satyabrata Behera, a Class X student, often spends his school hours in the mango orchard instead of attending classes. It is not that he doesn’t want to study. But attending classes at Dandamukundapur High School in Puri district’s Basudeipur village as a lone student is a tedious task.
“I was alone in Class IX. After being promoted to Class X, I remained alone. I don’t enjoy attending classes,” said Satyabrata, whose father is an agricultural labourer.
But the staffroom was quite occupied with five women teachers, including the headmaster. The school, established in 1976, was initially a girls’ high school. But later it was converted to a co-educational institute a few years ago with classes of IX and X. With no fresh admissions in Class IX for the current academic session, the school is running with only one student, sources said.
Headmaster Banita Das said, “The admission process started on April 1 and will continue for a few more days. We are hopeful that some students will take admission in Class IX this year.”
Sources said that despite repeated efforts to persuade parents, with the help of school management committee, to send their children to enrol, the response has been disheartening. Most families prefer enrolling their children in nearby schools that have classes I to X, for the sake of continuity and convenience.
Das said that since it is difficult to cook midday meal for one student, the school has opted to provide dry food instead. “Till last year, the school had six students, including five in Class X. But after they appeared for matric exam, one student is left for the current academic session,” she added.
Puri district education officer (DEO), Deepak Padhi, said, “We proposed to the directorate of higher secondary education to close the school in 2023-24 under the rule of closing institutes with fewer than 20 students. But it did not happen. We have decided to shift the student to a nearby school. We have asked a teacher at the old school to ensure he is attending the new school. The teachers will be engaged in other schools according to their subjects and vacancies.”
However, the decision to close the school did not go down well with the villagers. “The school was constructed with so much effort from villagers. An institute should not be closed like this. Govt should have made some effort to revive the school,” said Pradyumna Subuddhi, a resident.
“I was alone in Class IX. After being promoted to Class X, I remained alone. I don’t enjoy attending classes,” said Satyabrata, whose father is an agricultural labourer.
But the staffroom was quite occupied with five women teachers, including the headmaster. The school, established in 1976, was initially a girls’ high school. But later it was converted to a co-educational institute a few years ago with classes of IX and X. With no fresh admissions in Class IX for the current academic session, the school is running with only one student, sources said.
Headmaster Banita Das said, “The admission process started on April 1 and will continue for a few more days. We are hopeful that some students will take admission in Class IX this year.”
Sources said that despite repeated efforts to persuade parents, with the help of school management committee, to send their children to enrol, the response has been disheartening. Most families prefer enrolling their children in nearby schools that have classes I to X, for the sake of continuity and convenience.
Das said that since it is difficult to cook midday meal for one student, the school has opted to provide dry food instead. “Till last year, the school had six students, including five in Class X. But after they appeared for matric exam, one student is left for the current academic session,” she added.
Puri district education officer (DEO), Deepak Padhi, said, “We proposed to the directorate of higher secondary education to close the school in 2023-24 under the rule of closing institutes with fewer than 20 students. But it did not happen. We have decided to shift the student to a nearby school. We have asked a teacher at the old school to ensure he is attending the new school. The teachers will be engaged in other schools according to their subjects and vacancies.”
However, the decision to close the school did not go down well with the villagers. “The school was constructed with so much effort from villagers. An institute should not be closed like this. Govt should have made some effort to revive the school,” said Pradyumna Subuddhi, a resident.
Bhubaneswar: Satyabrata Behera, a Class X student, often spends his school hours in the mango orchard instead of attending classes. It is not that he doesn’t want to study. But attending classes at Dandamukundapur High School in Puri district’s Basudeipur village as a lone student is a tedious task.
“I was alone in Class IX. After being promoted to Class X, I remained alone. I don’t enjoy attending classes,” said Satyabrata, whose father is an agricultural labourer.
But the staffroom was quite occupied with five women teachers, including the headmaster. The school, established in 1976, was initially a girls’ high school. But later it was converted to a co-educational institute a few years ago with classes of IX and X. With no fresh admissions in Class IX for the current academic session, the school is running with only one student, sources said.
Headmaster Banita Das said, “The admission process started on April 1 and will continue for a few more days. We are hopeful that some students will take admission in Class IX this year.”
Sources said that despite repeated efforts to persuade parents, with the help of school management committee, to send their children to enrol, the response has been disheartening. Most families prefer enrolling their children in nearby schools that have classes I to X, for the sake of continuity and convenience.
Das said that since it is difficult to cook midday meal for one student, the school has opted to provide dry food instead. “Till last year, the school had six students, including five in Class X. But after they appeared for matric exam, one student is left for the current academic session,” she added.
Puri district education officer (DEO), Deepak Padhi, said, “We proposed to the directorate of higher secondary education to close the school in 2023-24 under the rule of closing institutes with fewer than 20 students. But it did not happen. We have decided to shift the student to a nearby school. We have asked a teacher at the old school to ensure he is attending the new school. The teachers will be engaged in other schools according to their subjects and vacancies.”
However, the decision to close the school did not go down well with the villagers. “The school was constructed with so much effort from villagers. An institute should not be closed like this. Govt should have made some effort to revive the school,” said Pradyumna Subuddhi, a resident.
