TURA, Dec 17: A school established over six years ago to provide education for special children in the heart of Tura is facing threat of a possible closure due to paucity of funds to pay its teaching fraternity.
The Louis Special School for Children with Intellectual Disability (ID), named after its founder Louis De Montfort, began functioning as a full-fledged set-up from 2015 inside the premises of Montfort School of Education in Tura.
It imparts among the students daily living skills alongside formal education to help prepare them for adulthood.
As they progress from Grade I to grade V, the students are put into normal classes as part of Montfort’s inclusive education. These young students are also imparted training in tailoring and computer education.
The only school in Garo Hills to cater to children with intellectual disability, there are as many as 55 students undergoing their education there. They are provided training by six special educators (teachers), who are specifically trained for this purpose.
Sadly, there has been no help from the state government for this school and the Montfort brothers of St Gabriel, who manage the entire Montfort institute with its various branches and wings, have been dipping into the little funds available from school fees to continue running the intellectual disability school.
In the absence of any available funds, the school pays meagre salary to its six teachers, resulting in a monthly budget of Rs 85,000.
With the impromptu closure of schools owing to COVID-19 coupled with the lack of financial support from the government, the school is dreading a (Contd on P-4)
GH school for…
(Contd from P-3)closure, thereby possibly depriving the children of education, who need it the most.
“If the government is able to provide the salary to teachers, it will go a long way in helping the school,” stated Montfort brothers.
As the pandemic continues to disrupt lives and damage the economy, options for a revival or a helping hand are wearing thin for the Montfort School.