Five Schemes Turned Into a Farce; Satyanarayan High School Struggles Amid Various Issues
Kakatpur, 21/7 – In an effort to improve the education system in rural areas, the state government has been gradually including schools under the transformation scheme known as the “5T Initiative.” Despite spending over ₹45 lakhs on each school, no significant improvement has been seen in teaching quality.
One such example is the Satyanarayan High School located in Shukapokhari under the Jaleswarpada Gram Panchayat, which is reportedly struggling with multiple issues. Allegations have surfaced that the administration misused funds by merely repainting old classrooms and laying substandard tiles through contractors, instead of carrying out proper renovations. Had the work been executed through a tender process under administrative supervision, better results could have been expected.
Due to the lack of classrooms, regular teaching is being disrupted. The e-library has been reduced to a mere staff common room, and though classes resumed after the summer vacation, the science lab still lacks a proper water supply. In several departments, there is only one teacher where there should be three, making it difficult to ensure proper education, according to complaints from students.
There are also accusations that the ₹10 lakh MGNREGA (employment scheme) board was displayed, but no such work was actually done. Instead, previously completed work under other schemes has been included under the 5T initiative to falsely claim fund utilization.
Parents and local villagers have brought these concerns to the attention of the Puri District Collector and have demanded a Vigilance investigation. They believe that such an inquiry would bring to light the real state of affairs in the school.