Darjeeling hill in West Bengal is known globally as host of world class schools since the era of Britishers. But the complicated political turmoil prevailing there has put these schools under deep crisis. Authorities are apprehending avalanche in this academic business that adds up near Rs 150 crore per annum in the local ground economy.
The movement might have gone low key, at least apparently, but it's effect on schools is likely to continue for long. Though not openly, many hills school authorities accepted presence of ill-effect of the situation. "Following frequent and long disruptions in academic activities, number of schools had large number of withdrawal of students in last couple of years. The enquiry pattern for next academic session is also very gloomy," said a board member of an important school.
"Though never made mandatory, but 'voluntary' participation of students in political rallies practically becomes a 'must.' And administration is hardly of any help," complained several academic institution heads on condition of anonymity. "Contrary to what was expected, the MoU signed between WB state and Gorkhaland activists to settle the Darjeeling crisis 2 years back could not yet change the trend," they added.
As the latest instance of making schools involved into political issues, after sponsoring a month long bandh, the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha , which is spearheading a separate statehood movement there in Darjeeling hills, asked students and teachers to initiate signature campaign supporting the demand of separate state and send copy of that to the President and Prime minister.
"These schools are expensive but offer high quality of teaching. But the agitation, without any sign of any end of that, has made things very uncertain. So, I preferred taking kids of my family off," said Mr. F. R. Sarkar from, Rangpur, Bangladesh. Many others students have been shifted to other Indian states form major Darjeeling schools.
As estimated, school business contributes near Rs 150 crore per annum in the local economy in the form of local purchase, house rents, vehicle rentals etc. Darjeeling hills have over 50 organized residential schools and around 250 other junior level ones hosting around 1 lakh students. Near 20% of total students in major institutes are mostly from countries like Bhutan, Bangladesh or Thailand. Around 15% - 20% are from south Bengal including Kolkata and near 35% from other central Indian states with the rest from local areas and western countries.
However, when asked on this, "We always keep highest level of concern about undisturbed running of our academic institutions. It is their voluntary participation that has always given impetus to our movement," said Mr. R Giri- General Secretary GJM.
Source : economictimes
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| St Joseph's school North Point Darjeeling |
The movement might have gone low key, at least apparently, but it's effect on schools is likely to continue for long. Though not openly, many hills school authorities accepted presence of ill-effect of the situation. "Following frequent and long disruptions in academic activities, number of schools had large number of withdrawal of students in last couple of years. The enquiry pattern for next academic session is also very gloomy," said a board member of an important school.
"Though never made mandatory, but 'voluntary' participation of students in political rallies practically becomes a 'must.' And administration is hardly of any help," complained several academic institution heads on condition of anonymity. "Contrary to what was expected, the MoU signed between WB state and Gorkhaland activists to settle the Darjeeling crisis 2 years back could not yet change the trend," they added.
As the latest instance of making schools involved into political issues, after sponsoring a month long bandh, the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha , which is spearheading a separate statehood movement there in Darjeeling hills, asked students and teachers to initiate signature campaign supporting the demand of separate state and send copy of that to the President and Prime minister.
"These schools are expensive but offer high quality of teaching. But the agitation, without any sign of any end of that, has made things very uncertain. So, I preferred taking kids of my family off," said Mr. F. R. Sarkar from, Rangpur, Bangladesh. Many others students have been shifted to other Indian states form major Darjeeling schools.
As estimated, school business contributes near Rs 150 crore per annum in the local economy in the form of local purchase, house rents, vehicle rentals etc. Darjeeling hills have over 50 organized residential schools and around 250 other junior level ones hosting around 1 lakh students. Near 20% of total students in major institutes are mostly from countries like Bhutan, Bangladesh or Thailand. Around 15% - 20% are from south Bengal including Kolkata and near 35% from other central Indian states with the rest from local areas and western countries.
However, when asked on this, "We always keep highest level of concern about undisturbed running of our academic institutions. It is their voluntary participation that has always given impetus to our movement," said Mr. R Giri- General Secretary GJM.
Source : economictimes
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