Allegations of irregularities rock Meghalaya school, activist calls for urgent reforms

Allegations of massive corruption, mismanagement, and abuse of power have emerged against the Khaldang Ad-hoc Upper Primary School in Meghalaya’s North Garo Hills, prompting calls for urgent intervention. Social activist Greneth Sangma has submitted a formal complaint to the Director of Education, detailing a series of serious irregularities that have plagued the institution, raising fresh concerns about the condition of rural education in the Garo Hills region.

Established in 1968 as a private institution and granted government recognition as an ad-hoc school in 1978, the Khaldang Ad-hoc Upper Primary School was once a thriving educational hub. Today, it has dwindled to a mere 34 students with only four teachers, a stark decline attributed to allegations of teacher misconduct and administrative failures.

In his complaint, Sangma highlighted several core issues:

Unauthorized withdrawal of government funds meant for the mid-day meal scheme and teacher salaries.

Recruitment carried out without public notification, violating transparency norms.

Appointments made off-campus at the Sub-Divisional School Education Officer’s (SDSEO) office, bypassing standard procedures.

No involvement of the School Managing Committee (SMC), with hiring decisions made solely by the president and secretary.

Reports of student abuse, including a case where a student was forced to drop out after being beaten by a teacher.

Villagers have expressed outrage after learning that mid-day meals were served only 15 times in the first six months of the year. It was also revealed that the headmaster stored food rations in his personal residence rather than the school. The move has not only violated government protocol but also eroded community trust.

Community members assert that the SMC, formed in 2022, has completed its term, yet the president and secretary continue to function without accountability. Villagers’ repeated appeals to dissolve the current committee and constitute a new one have been rejected by the SDSEO, fueling further discontent.

Following the June 2 complaint, the Cluster Resource Centre (CRC) team conducted two visits. However, during a recent hearing, police were called after rumors of possible unrest. Villagers were further shocked to see the president—against whom the complaint was filed—present during the proceedings. He was removed only after strong objections from locals.

After the retirement of two teachers in March, the school’s recruitment process came under fire for its secrecy:

Job vacancy notices were displayed only on the school notice board with no newspaper or online announcements.

Notices were removed after just three days.

Villagers were left without clarity even after attending the March 27 recruitment meeting.

Frustration Grows Amid Official Silence
Despite multiple calls and written appeals, the SDSEO has failed to respond to the villagers’ demands. The lack of official communication has deepened the crisis and eroded public faith in the education department.

Greneth Sangma and the local community have laid out the following demands:

Immediate suspension of those involved in wrongdoing.

Dissolution of the current SMC and establishment of a neutral, elected body.

A transparent and merit-based recruitment process.

Regular audits and monitoring to ensure student welfare and adherence to norms.

Additionally, Mother Union President Malbina Marak while speaking to India Today NE stated, "The L.P. School and U.P. School were established during the tenure of former Speaker Late P.A. Sangma. Since then, these schools have not undergone any repairs. Only a single-room structure was added once, and many years have passed without any further improvements. We urge that the old schools be renovated. We appeal to our Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and Education Minister Rakkam Sangma to address our issues."

This statement highlights the longstanding neglect of the L.P. and U.P. Schools, which have not seen significant maintenance or upgrades since their inception under Late P.A. Sangma. The community is appealing to the current leadership, including Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and Education Minister Rakkam Sangma, to prioritize the renovation and improvement of these educational institutions.