Paocham High School in Shambles

Ukhrul, April 4: Established in 1959, Paocham High School, Phungcham Village, Ukhrul District, Manipur, is considered one of the oldest schools in the northern part of Ukhrul District. It has shaped many reputed students from the Raphei area.

Today, the school has one Headmistress and five teaching staff, and the building is in a dilapidated condition, unfit for conducting normal classes. “The classrooms are without doors and windows, the walls are broken down, there are visible cracks on the walls, and it will not be safe for conducting classes, especially during the rainy season,” stated Juneme Longleng, President of Phungcham Katamnao Mayar Ngala Long (PKMNL). He also added that there are no teaching staff for Science and English subjects and requested the concerned authority to post adequate teachers.

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The sanctioned posts at the school have witnessed a decrease in numbers over the past years. In 2012, the sanctioned teaching faculty posts were 28; in 2015, they were reduced to 19, and presently, the sanctioned posts for teachers are only 15. Out of the 15 sanctioned posts, only six teachers are working at the moment, including the Headmistress-in-charge.

“It is regrettable to see one of the oldest and most reputed government high schools in the area in a dilapidated condition, facing an acute shortage of teachers and poor infrastructure, making it unconducive for quality education,” stated Juneme Longleng, President of PKMNL.

Villagers of Phungcham, Paorei, and Varangalai have expressed their discontent many times over the years about the negligence of the concerned authority in responding to their pleas regarding major shortages at Paocham High School—the only high school for the three villages. The villagers have brought the plight of the school to the attention of the concerned authority multiple times, highlighting the issues of its deplorable building conditions and acute shortage of teachers.

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Phungcham village consists of 473 households with a population of 2,110, Paorei village consists of 522 households with a population of 2,581, and Varangalai consists of 91 households with a population of 328. The school is the only government high school imparting education to children from 1,086 households, covering a total population of 5,019.