An Angel’s Visit to a Govt. School

Few days back I was sitting in my office and drafting a report. A beautiful lady entered my room asking, ‘May I come in Sir?’ I nodded with a smile, showed her a seat and said, ‘Yes, please.’ She asked with a soft voice, ‘If you are not very busy, may I take few minutes of your time?’ I replied, ‘Sure, What can I do for you?’ She said, ‘I would like to visit all the classes of your school.’ I politely asked, ‘May I know your identity, Madam?’ She looked with such a look that completely mesmerized me and said, ‘I am an Angel, coming from heaven.’ Something strange made me to believe her words; I silently stood up and glanced at her with a child’s fascination and said, ‘Angel, I am blessed to have you here in this poor school.’ She raised her eyes and asked, ‘What did you say, poor school? The monthly salary bill of your school is nearly 15 lakhs; how do you say your school is a poor school?’ I replied, ‘Angel, all of my students are from economically backward families. Moreover, see the schools’ infrastructure; that’s why I said poor school.’ She smiled and said, ‘Strange! When communities compete in constructing big churches, Govt. school buildings are becoming more and more deplorable.’

We walked towards the class rooms and she keenly observed the children and the teachers. Teachers in most of the classes were teaching sincerely and expressions on her face indicated that she was impressed with it. Suddenly there was a change in her face and I looked at the class rooms; there were no teachers in few classes and children were playing happily inside the class rooms. I said, ‘Few teachers are on leave today.’

We went to the staff room and I introduced her to the teachers as a researcher. She interacted with them casually and few teachers painfully explained how the non-detention policy under the RTE hampers the very basic of the education system. She asked with curiosity, ‘How is that only the students of Govt. schools suffer due to the non- detention policy?’ One teacher explained, ‘Madam, most of the Government school students belong to the poorer sections of society and from rural backgrounds, whose parents are mostly illiterate. Therefore, to train them up at par with private schools is not an easy task’.

She said with a smile, ‘I agree with you to some extent. Govt. schools may not be able to produce qualitative results like private schools. But at least you could produce an average result of simple passes.’ There was silence in the room. She calmly looked at the teachers and continued, ‘I   have visited the Evening Section of Assisi School in Dimapur, which is a private school managed by the catholic missionary. There are nearly 1000 students studying in the evening shift and almost all of them belong to the social category you have described now. Even majority of the students are working as domestic helps and are involved in doing menial works. The teachers are of comparatively less qualified than the Govt. school teachers and are also underpaid. But the general performance of those students is above average and there is no complaint from the school authorities regarding the RTE act!’ I said, ‘Madam, private school teachers are answerable to their employers and continuance of their job depends on the work output. But, we, the Govt. servants developed a feeling that we are the masters of public and not answerable to anyone. So, expecting sincerity and dedication of private school teachers from us is not wise.’  

We came back to my office and the time was around 12:30 p.m. Students from the high school section were returning home and she asked with a surprise, ‘Is your school time from 9 a.m to 12:30 p.m?’ I said, ‘No, the actual class hours are from 9 a.m to 2 p.m. But, mostly we end the classes for the high school section by 12:30 p.m. as 2 to 3 teachers use to be on leave every day.’ She asked, ‘May I see the teachers’ attendance register?’ I silently gave it to her. She glanced through the pages, expressed a strong wave of disapproval and said, ‘I believe a Govt. servant is entitled for only 12 C/Ls in a year; how is that many of your teachers have exceeded the limit?’ I said, ‘Angel, when an employee exceed the leave limit, first I give verbal warning, followed by written warning and then force them to apply for other kinds of leave such as Earned Leave which causes financial loss to them at the time of retirement.  Even then, few teachers continue to be irregular and the next option is to send complaint letters to my superiors for initiating disciplinary action against them. Before this cycle is completed, I would be transferred to another school and the case would end there.’   After a moment of silence she asked, ‘Don’t you apply the rule “No Work, No Pay”?’ I said, ‘Time to time we come across those terms in news papers. But practically this rule might have never been applied anywhere in Nagaland.’

Now, she looked at my eyes and said, ‘I have seen hundreds of students reaching your school after travelling 6 to 7 kms on foot. They were resting in 2 to 3 places during the journey to get relief from the heat & sweating and the same hardships they would face while returning home. Here, you are teaching them just for 3 hrs per day and take home a handsome salary; don’t you think what you are doing is a sin?’ Uncontrollably few drops of tears emerged out of my eyes and I said, ‘Yes, Angel, I know; on each day of my service, I go on adding sin in my account. At times, I ask myself, what is the meaning of calling me as a Principal if I can’t deliver justice to the poor children whose future are entrusted with me? I really don’t know where do I stand and what should I do?’ She rose from the chair, held my hands with compassion and said, ‘Don’t worry son, God knows you well and sent you here with a purpose. He will protect you from all the odds; carry on your duty without fear’. In a moment she disappeared like a flash of light and I stood there as a statue. I heard bells ringing from the nearby church and suddenly came to my sense. My God! What a wonderful dream during the short Sunday nap after a heavy lunch!!