Malda, Sept. 29 -- The district education department conducted a surprise inspection at Central School for Girls Junior High School on BS Road in English Bazar on Monday afternoon following reports of poor attendance and irregularities in the functioning of the institution.
The school, which caters to students from Classes V to VIII, reportedly has only seven enrolled students. Allegations had surfaced that regular classes were not being conducted and that teachers sometimes signed the attendance register and left the premises. There were also reports of the school remaining closed during scheduled hours.
Following media reports on the alleged irregularities, AI of Schools Shukdeb Pramanik visited the institution to verify the claims. During the inspection, not a single student was found present. Of the four teachers and one clerk attached to the school, only one teacher and the clerk were present. The head teacher was also absent.
According to school sources, some teachers were on leave while two teachers had been assigned examination duty at another school. Officials examined attendance registers and other records and also inspected the school's infrastructure.
Speaking after the inspection, Pramanik said: "All the records of the school have been examined. One teacher and one clerk were present today. Others were either on leave or on examination duty. However, not a single student was found in the school." He added: "The entire matter will be reported to the higher authorities, and they will decide on the next course of action."
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.