SEPPA, Dec 16: In a representation addressed to the Education Minister, the East Kameng Social Welfare and Cultural Organization (EKSWCO) has drawn his attention towards the pathetic state of pre-primary schooling in East Kameng District.
Referring to its earlier visit to various schools under Chayantajo,  it said that “from the early indicators which we are picking up from our Outreach Programme, the situation on the ground is worrisome."
According to EKSWCO out of the 480 Anganwadi Centres in East Kameng district (Pakke-Kessang combined), 99% are defunct or irregular and 80% of the Anganwadi workers are illiterate or semi-literate, in a way untrained and unfit to teach pre-school students. Out of the 20 pre-primary schools, 7 (seven) have zero enrolments and 9 (nine) have less than double-digit enrolment. So there is a complete mismatch between enrolment at pre-primary and primary schools,” it added.
It also stated that migration coupled with lack of parents’ trust in the government's primary education system, the number of defunct schools is ever-growing in the district—from 37 in 2016-17 to 59 schools in 2019-20. This is a matter of concern for all and the government’s intervention is urgently required here, it added.
As a pilot project, the government has allowed 20 pre-primary schools in the East Kameng & Pakke-Kessang districts, but the figure for enrolment is questionable. Only 235 students have enrolled themselves for the current academic session. This is a whole new dimension of the problem which asks for introspection and investigation about the performance of field level officials, it appealed to the Minister.
Meanwhile, the organisation informed that the next leg of education tour has been planned for Bameng, Richukrong, Bana and Lada areas.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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