Students suffer at GMS New Market Kohima since up-gradation in 2012
Morung Express News
Kohima | February 1
Established in 1939, the New Market Government Middle School (GMS) under Kohima district is the second oldest school in the state capital. It was upgraded to a High School under the RMSA Scheme 2010-11 along with schools in Mezoma, New Market, Tsemenyu New, Dikie (Dihoma), Khonoma and Jakhama. It was officially inaugurated in 2012. The RMSA scheme says it is supposed to provide ‘important quality interventions.’ However, years since the upgradation of the school, no additional teachers have been deployed. The school had to hire a private tutor last year to teach mathematics, while the rest of the subjects have been managed by the middle school teachers. “There is no action, no botheration,” expressed a frustrated resident at New Market Colony. The site for the upgraded school, which was bought by the colony for Rs 5.5 lakh was inaugurated on February 27, 2012. Yet due to a lengthy court case between two contractors the construction was delayed. On contacting the Contractor in charge who won the court case last year, he stated the inability to begin construction due to the prolonged court case. The contractor revealed that construction work for the new school will start on Monday (February 1). The only work seen at site till now has been a site leveling work carried out last year. Students of class 9 continued to hold classes in a rented room paid by the colony ward till 2015.
Last year, out of 41 students in class 9 only 37 students passed, says Bendang, Head Teacher of the school, adding that the pass percentage for the class 9 students since its upgradation has always been below 50 per cent. The school at present has a total of 23 teachers. The upgraded classes will require seven teachers at the least according to the subject requirement.
Due to the non-deployment of teachers, the school has not been able to upgrade to class 10. This has also affected the education of students where the students of Class 9 have secured low percentage in their results. Residents in the area said that seeking admission for class 10 is a difficult task, which is compounded by the poor economic background of most students.
To pursue their class 10, the students have to go to Seikhazou Higher Secondary School or Rüzhükhrie Higher Secondary School, which means they have to walk a long distance or board buses.
Following the upgradation, several memorandums were sent to the Minister of School Education in 2013. A letter was also sent to the RMSA Mission Director in 2015 requesting for the construction and more importantly teachers to be deployed for the school. Yet no concrete action has taken place.
