Sudden closure of school irks parents, teachers

SHILLONG: The sudden decision of the owner-cum-principal of St Albert’s Secondary School in Nongthymmai to close down the educational institute has irked the parents of the students and the teachers working in the school.
A person, on condition of anonymity, said that the school, which is affiliated to MBOSE, is being closed down without prior intimation to the teaching and office staff.
The person also informed that the principal cum owner of the St Albert’s, John Joy Appathara and his wife Shirly, the headmistress, had started the school in 1988 along with some local teachers.
These teachers who have served the school for so long have become jobless due to the sudden closure of the school. The teachers demanded that the Education Minister should instruct the school authorities to pay compensation to them for a period of one year and also provide alternative employment to the teachers in other schools.
The teachers also want a proper investigation into the sudden decision of closing down the school.
Meanwhile, St Albert’s principal John Joy Appathara claimed that the school has only 37 students and since there were no new admissions this year it had become non-viable to run the institute.
He further said that there are guidelines from the Inspectorate of Schools that each class should have at least 20 students, whereas the school had only 37 students.
In addition, he said that he was unwell and has to return to his home town in Kerala for treatment.
Responding to a query, Appathara said that wide consultations were held with everyone including the parents and guardians of the students and accordingly, students have been rehabilitated in other schools in the area.
He further said that the school is a self-financed institution.