Govt Primary School closed for 10 years in Bhojpur

Kumar Rajiv Nayan

Aea : Students of village Agiaw in Bhojpur district have to travel at least 3 km to go to school at village Azimabad as the Primary School, Mehandaura at Agiaw, is closed for the last 10 years after an alleged embezzlement of Rs 11 lakh in the construction of the school building came to light. The school building is in dilapidated condition and being is used as cattleshed.

Ramendra Rai, a villager, said that the Primary School, Mehandaura at Agiaw village, was running smoothly till 2007 and the education department had given Rs 11 lakh for the construction of the school building in 2007. Some influential persons of the village quarrelled for commission and also embezzled the fund, Rai alleged. After the matter came to light, the school was closed. He also said that the villagers requested the Block Education Officer, Agiaw, several times to re-open the school but in vain. A letter from the Prime Minister Officer had also come inquiring into the matter in 2010.

Earlier, three teachers were appointed in the school on contract basis but later they were transferred to Middle school though a contractual teacher can’t be transferred outside of his or her contract unit.

Block Education Officer (BEO), Agiaw block, Heera Lal Singh said that he had himself gone to inquire into the matter. The school building is half constructed. He said that he trid to get some land for the school building but no one came forward. He added that after the letter from the Prime Minister office, he sent the inquiry report to the office of the District Education Officer (DEO) and but the matter is still pending there.