Editor,
I would like to bring to the notice of the concerned authorities the insensitive and dictatorial attitude of the Head Teacher of Ramkrishna U.P/L.P School, Umsohsun, Shillong towards its students. This year the school authority introduced one online learning app named HIKAI containing preloaded lectures and videos for conducting online classes and promised to provide one electronic tablet to each student so that they can easily access the course content and submit the assignments given to them. However, till date no such tablet has been provided to the students. Instead, the students have been asked to access the HIKAI application through their smart phones or computers and to submit the assignments accordingly. Most of the students of the school hail from economically weaker section of society and very few have access to a smart phone or computer. As such, many of the students could not upload /submit their assignments on time. As a punishment the school authority has withheld the results of the first terminal examination of most of the students. In fact, some of the students have ‘hired’ smart mobile phones of their neighbours on hourly payment basis to access the course content and submit their assignments. Such an insensitive action on the part of school’s Head Teacher has brought undue tension in the minds of the students for no fault of theirs. At this time of the pandemic, when there is large scale economic hardship all around, how does the school authority expect parents from economically weaker sections to provide smart phones and bear the cost of data connection?
It is ironic that the students of this school are being treated at par with students of other ‘posh’ schools catering to the children of the affluent class. The Head Teacher is well aware about the ground realities but he is not ready to provide any succour to the students. Instead he is threatening the students of detention in the same class in case all assignments are not submitted in time. When the school authority promised to provide the pre-loaded electronic tab to the students, is it not his responsibility to honour the promise? It is pertinent to mention here that the incumbent Head Teacher has been elevated to the post few months back illegally without the approval of the Managing Committee of the school and approval from SDSEO since there is no Managing Committee approved by SDSEO since August 1, 2019. The concerned authorities may please look into these issues in the best interests of the students and parents as well.
Yours etc.,
Roben Chyrmang
Shillong-4
Of hypocrites and their hypocrisy
Editor,
American political journalist Michael Gerson says that political hypocrisy is, “the conscious use of a mask to fool the public and gain political benefit,” which is reflected in the combined coalition government of the MDA. This hypocrisy is blatantly seen in allowing pristine green forest cover for excavation of limestone to benefit Star Cement a private limited company in Brichyrnot East Jaintia Hills district. The hypocrisy is masked in the form of a public hearing conducted by the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) a toothless institution and then reaches the Chief Minister who feigns ignorance that he was not in the loop. How can the Chief Minister of a state wash his hands off the responsibility and duty of protecting and conserving the natural ecosystem? Is he too scared to challenge the cement lobby lest his Government collapses or is it something else? Why isn’t the UDP which constantly talks of constructive politics now as silent as the grave? For them silence is golden at the cost of the fragile environment and maybe their chairs. This is why we need a new set of people and new generation of politics to take the overall interest of the state with seriousness. We have had enough of hypocrites and their hypocrisy is now out in the public.
Yours etc.,
Dominic Stadlin Wankhar
Shillong:3
Awaiting the 3rd wave
Editor,
We have not even emerged from the lockdown caused by the second wave and now we have to face the third wave at a nationwide level. The focal point is to restrain the transmission of the virus so if we are not fully vaccinated, we should avoid crowded indoor spaces, wash our hands frequently and wear masks. These are essential precautions we should take to reduce our risk of contracting or spreading the coronavirus.
As per the study conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Imperial College, London, UK, the third Covid wave won’t be as drastic as compared to the second wave. Previewing a vaccine ramp-up scenario where 40 percent of the population has received two doses within three months of the second wave peak due to expeditious increase of vaccination may have possibly played an indispensable role in taking the edge off the ongoing and forthcoming waves of the pandemic to some extent.
It’s quite difficult to predict the concerns regarding the changing effects of the pandemic but we should keep a close watch on it for a longer period and adopt Covid-appropriate behaviours. Only if each person takes the responsibility to be vaccinated and spreads that message, can we build solidarity and defeat the virus in order to build a better world.
Yours etc.,
Pinaki Nandy
Via email