S Henly Phom
DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 27
MYSTIFIED expression with books in their hands but with dreams in their eyes, the students of
Government Primary School (GPS) at Landmark Colony in Dimapur Children’s Park stare at an uncertain future as they attend their classes with only a tinned roof to protect them from sun and rain.
Their previous classroom/school was the dumping stockade of arms and ammunition used during World War II by the allied forces. The students have been calling this stockade ‘my school’ for the last four years. Almost on the verge of getting a new proper classroom, their happiness was short-lived with the restraining order from Dimapur Deputy Commissioner’s office on Tuesday morning.
The GPS students who are of standard A-4 have been bearing the poor condition of their old classroom (stockade) without any protest. Since most of the students are from underprivileged families, their parents without any alternative are forced to send their wards to study in the stockade with the aspiration to give them education. But with the directives from the DC’s office, they are left school-less.
The Right to Education (RTE) Act ensures that a child should be made free of trauma, fear and anxiety through a system of child friendly and child centered education. But students of this GPS have been forced to study in a small classroom structured out of stockade which belonged to the WW II which does not fulfill any criteria under RTE Act. When they are lacking the basic infrastructure, the quality of education is a matter to think.
The council members of Midland, Residency and Landmark Colony appear to be adamant and say they will fight ‘tooth and nail’ to get back the new proposed school for the welfare of the GPS children.
Talking to Eastern Mirror, teachers of the school lamented that throughout the season they face hardships using the stockade as classroom. If the elders cannot bear to be in the stockade what about the children, they wondered.
With concern for the students, the teachers have decided to take classes in the open air at the Children’s Park till the authority comes up with a solution. They also shared their opposition to get back to the previous school (stockade).
Like the teachers and parents, even students are hesitant to sit in the previous classroom and are anxiously waiting to be in the new school.
“Investing for the students is not a waste, so why are the authorities apprehensive in taking the steps forward,” questioned council members. They believe that among these children are future leaders whose rights and opportunities are being neglected.
“Every year upgradation of schools takes place but the situation of GPS Ward 13, Landmark Colony is the opposite,” said Landmark Colony GB sarcastically. He further said the higher authorities should put themselves into the shoes of these children and parents and then come to a conclusion on the issue of the school.
The council members and teaching staff, sharing their woes to Eastern Mirror, said the only hope they are leaning on are the Naga Students Federation (NSF), Dimapur Naga Students Union (DNSU) and other student bodies.
Education is believed to be the only means for any individual and if a child is denied the right to access to education, he is not only being deprived of his right to live with dignity, he is also being deprived of his right to freedom of speech and expression. So they (Landmark, Residency and Midland colony councils) urged upon the authorities to respect the rights of the children. They asserted that there will be ‘no going back’ and vowed to fight till the end until their demands are fulfilled.
