TEZPUR, Aug 8 - At a time when as per the guidelines of the Education department, most of the non-amalgamated schools in Sonitpur district have been amalgamated for the all-round development of the students, the state of non-amalgamation of Khelmati ME School with its senior section (High School Part) under Balipara Education Block in Sonitpur district is a mystery among the socially-conscious section of the greater Khelmati area.
It is important to mention here that with a view to ascertain standard teacher-pupil ratio, optimum services of the employees, saving administrative cost and other logistic support of the schools, the Government of Assam in Secondary Education Department had decided that the schools situated in same campus or in any nearby area shall be amalgamated/merged and all the schools shall be brought into one single administrative and academic unit under Siksha-Khetra, a scheme for amalgamation and merger of different schools.
As per these norms, under Sonitpur District circle (Tezpur) altogether 108 number of such schools have been amalgamated till date. These schools after merging into a single unit have been able to present a good show from all sides including in the recent HS final examinations results.
More importantly, the Khelmati ME and High School that came into being as an outcome of selfless zeal of a section of committed people of the area during the 60s, with two separate administrative mechanisms within the same campus have been able to cater to the educational need of the students coming from far-flung areas. But due to two separate administrative set up being run in the same campus, despite possessing the passion of giving best possible education to the students, the teachers cannot do the same. Moreover, in other areas like organising different events for boosting psychological and emotional development of the students, holding examinations, organising morning assembly etc., both the sections of the school have to often face many chaotic situations.
Observing these issues, the socially aware section of the area, the teaching community and the civil society have repeatedly petitioned the authority concerned including the BEEO, Balipara Education Block, the DEEO, Sonitpur District and Inspector of Schools, SDC, Tezpur to amalgamate the school for mitigating these problems.
However, the people of the greater Khelmati area and a section of teachers have alleged that due to the vested interest of some people in nexus with the BEEO, Balipara Block and the District Elementary Education officer, the sections have not been merged into a single school violating all norms.
A teacher of the ME section of the school who didn�t want to be named here mentioned that hectic lobbying of a section of teachers, mismanagement in mid-day meal etc., have also hampered the academic environment in the school. �As there is not a single school left in Sonitpur district for amalgamation, it has remained a mystery for everybody as to why this school is yet to be merged.� He said that the Education department should intervene in the matter and take necessary steps for the amalgamation of the school, thereby restoring its academic quality.
