Goalpara Sainik School grappling with age-old problems
From Sivasish Thakur
GOALPARA, June 24 Sainik School Goalpara, the oldest institution imparting military education in the North-East, has been grappling with a number of problems - some of which are as old as the school itself. Today, the school virtually lies cut off from the mainland. Both the roads linking it with the nearest headquarters town, Goalpara, stand disrupted, as the two bridges on either side had been washed away during last years floods. Country boats are the only mode of communication for not just the school inmates, but for all the people living in the nearby areas.
Road communication has been a serious problem for us, SV Mutalik, who assumed charge as principal in March this year, said. He, however, declined from elaborating on other difficulties faced by the school, citing his recent joining as the reason. ! There are some other problems, though, like power and water shortage, which I have taken up with the Union Minister of State for Defence, BK Handique, he said.
Ruing the transport bottleneck, several faculty members said that it was high time the government authorities did something concrete to restore road communication. We are practically marooned with both the bridges - one at Dumoni over the river Krishnai and the other at Dubapara over the Jinari - having been washes away last year. And there is little chance of any improvement in the situation, with the Monsoon having already set in, they said.
The reputed school, which has been able to carve a niche for itself in its over 40 years of existence, and has given the North-east a fair representation in the armed forces, does not seem to be enjoying the favour from the authorities concerned. Long and unscheduled power cuts, scarcity of water and frequent disruption of telecommunication have been persistent irrit! ants for the school inhabitants. This has also seriously hampered the day-to-day functioning of the premier institution, spread over a lush green area of 560 acres.
Power and water shortage, and telephones that often go out of order, have made our lives miserable, and these are not new problems, a faculty member said. The pump used for water supply comes under water during the rainy season, and during the winter it rarely operates as the water level recedes a lot. Either way, water supply is severely restricted throughout the year, which is really frustrating, she said, adding that this had been happening since 1976.
The importance of the school should be gauged by the fact that it is one of the just two schools (the other being at Manipur) catering to the needs of the eight north-eastern States. Since its inception on November 12, 1964, it has given the region 180 NDA entrants - many of who have done their motherland proud through their acts of valour and heroism.
As on today, the school has 557 students, while our peak strength is 675, Mutalik said, adding that the enrolment trend has been almost constant over the last few years. With so many newer career options emerging before the students, it is natural even if we have a slight slump in the enrolment, he said.
The results of the school have been encouraging. While the Xth standard examination this year recorded a pass percentage of 96.4, the XIIth standard had 81.7 per cent. We are committed to improving both the quality of education as well as the quality of life of the students, Mutalik said.
The institution has 26 teaching staff and four other members for imparting miscellaneous trainings. The annual fee for a student is Rs 48,000, of which Rs 25,000 has to be borne by his parents. The State Government and the Centre bear Rs 7,500 and Rs 2,000 respectively, while the Union Ministry of Defence contributes Rs 10,000.
The visiting Union! Minister had a discussion with the school authorities and the Goalpara district administration over various problems plaguing the institution, and the Minister has assured us of resolving the grievances at the earliest, Mutalik said.
From Sivasish Thakur
GOALPARA, June 24 Sainik School Goalpara, the oldest institution imparting military education in the North-East, has been grappling with a number of problems - some of which are as old as the school itself. Today, the school virtually lies cut off from the mainland. Both the roads linking it with the nearest headquarters town, Goalpara, stand disrupted, as the two bridges on either side had been washed away during last years floods. Country boats are the only mode of communication for not just the school inmates, but for all the people living in the nearby areas.
Road communication has been a serious problem for us, SV Mutalik, who assumed charge as principal in March this year, said. He, however, declined from elaborating on other difficulties faced by the school, citing his recent joining as the reason. ! There are some other problems, though, like power and water shortage, which I have taken up with the Union Minister of State for Defence, BK Handique, he said.
Ruing the transport bottleneck, several faculty members said that it was high time the government authorities did something concrete to restore road communication. We are practically marooned with both the bridges - one at Dumoni over the river Krishnai and the other at Dubapara over the Jinari - having been washes away last year. And there is little chance of any improvement in the situation, with the Monsoon having already set in, they said.
The reputed school, which has been able to carve a niche for itself in its over 40 years of existence, and has given the North-east a fair representation in the armed forces, does not seem to be enjoying the favour from the authorities concerned. Long and unscheduled power cuts, scarcity of water and frequent disruption of telecommunication have been persistent irrit! ants for the school inhabitants. This has also seriously hampered the day-to-day functioning of the premier institution, spread over a lush green area of 560 acres.
Power and water shortage, and telephones that often go out of order, have made our lives miserable, and these are not new problems, a faculty member said. The pump used for water supply comes under water during the rainy season, and during the winter it rarely operates as the water level recedes a lot. Either way, water supply is severely restricted throughout the year, which is really frustrating, she said, adding that this had been happening since 1976.
The importance of the school should be gauged by the fact that it is one of the just two schools (the other being at Manipur) catering to the needs of the eight north-eastern States. Since its inception on November 12, 1964, it has given the region 180 NDA entrants - many of who have done their motherland proud through their acts of valour and heroism.
As on today, the school has 557 students, while our peak strength is 675, Mutalik said, adding that the enrolment trend has been almost constant over the last few years. With so many newer career options emerging before the students, it is natural even if we have a slight slump in the enrolment, he said.
The results of the school have been encouraging. While the Xth standard examination this year recorded a pass percentage of 96.4, the XIIth standard had 81.7 per cent. We are committed to improving both the quality of education as well as the quality of life of the students, Mutalik said.
The institution has 26 teaching staff and four other members for imparting miscellaneous trainings. The annual fee for a student is Rs 48,000, of which Rs 25,000 has to be borne by his parents. The State Government and the Centre bear Rs 7,500 and Rs 2,000 respectively, while the Union Ministry of Defence contributes Rs 10,000.
The visiting Union! Minister had a discussion with the school authorities and the Goalpara district administration over various problems plaguing the institution, and the Minister has assured us of resolving the grievances at the earliest, Mutalik said.
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