Manida, Sept 4: With internal examinations approaching, students of Saheed Memorial Higher Secondary School at Manida under Rasagobindpur block of Mayurbhanj district are staring at an uncertain academic future due to an acute shortage of teaching and non-teaching staff.
Established on August 15, 1987, the government institution is known for its unique Shaheed Memorial. Soil collected from the native places of martyrs from different parts of Odisha was placed at the memorial, giving the institution its distinctive identity. Teachers and staff traditionally pay homage at the memorial before beginning their work.
However, the institution is now struggling with a severe shortage of faculty. Around 750 students are currently studying in the Plus Two Science and Arts streams.
Against the sanctioned strength of 15 lecturers, only eight are currently available. The Science stream has no teachers for Physics, Mathematics, Botany and Zoology. The Chemistry lecturer has reportedly remained absent from the college for more than a year.
The situation is equally concerning in the Arts stream, where there are no lecturers for English, Economics and Political Science.
Students are also deprived of a sports teacher, while the librarian's post remains vacant. The shortage extends to non-teaching staff as well. Against the requirement of 17 non-teaching employees, only six are currently working.
With internal examinations scheduled to be held in September, students and parents are worried that several subjects have not been taught properly. Students say they are now under pressure to prepare for both the internal and upcoming board examinations without adequate classroom instruction.
Despite allegedly bringing the issue to the notice of the college authorities and the government earlier, students claim that no concrete action has been taken so far.
Students have urged the government to fill the vacant teaching and non-teaching posts immediately and restore regular academic activities. They have also warned that if their demands remain unaddressed, they may launch an agitation in the coming days.
Meanwhile, college authorities say the institution is facing financial difficulties after free admissions were introduced as per government directives. According to Principal Dilip Kumar Bhoi, the financial constraints have made it difficult to engage guest lecturers to bridge the faculty shortage.
The principal also claimed that the financial situation has become so difficult that the college could soon face disruption of essential services, including electricity and internet connectivity.
The students are now waiting for government intervention, hoping that the vacant posts will be filled before the examination season puts further pressure on their academic future.
