E-Paper
School functioning unrecognised for 150 yrs
BELIEVE IT or not, a primary school is reported to have been functioning without registration and recognition for over 150 years in Varanasi. The Bengali Tola Primary School in Pandey Haveli area is one of the oldest in city, having been established in 1854. It has 700 students. Since the school is not recognised, the parents face many problems in getting their wards admitted in other schools from class VI onwards.
BELIEVE IT or not, a primary school is reported to have been functioning without registration and recognition for over 150 years in Varanasi.
The Bengali Tola Primary School in Pandey Haveli area is one of the oldest in city, having been established in 1854. It has 700 students. Since the school is not recognised, the parents face many problems in getting their wards admitted in other schools from class VI onwards.
Besides, the parents are allegedly forced to buy books and stationery from the school. The fee is also increased from time to time.
Some parents reported the matter to the ‘Drive Against Bribe’ camp here on Wednesday. They alleged the school management was involved in gross irregularities and greased the palms of Education Department officials to avoid legal action.
A parent, Saswati Sen, said 13 applications were filed with the district magistrate, the district inspector of schools, the basic shiksha adhikari and the State education minister, but in vain. “The most serious problem for is getting our wards admitted to other schools for further studies,” said another parent Ashish Kumar.
He said most other schools denied admission to the students as the Bengali Tola Primary School was unrecognised. The duo, who filed an application under the Right to Information Act with the District Information Officer on Wednesday, alleged that the school management increased the fee at will.
When contacted, school manager Purnendu Bhattacharya said they had filed an application for recognition a week ago. He could not explain as to why the school remained unrecognised for such a long period.
District inspector of schools Onkar Shukla expressed ignorance about functioning of the unrecognised school. “Had it come to my notice, I would have taken strict action against those responsible,” said Shukla. Several other cases of official negligence were also reported at the ‘Drive Against Bribe’ camp at the district headquarters on Wednesday.
