The cut down of financial support came after the Commission for the Investigation for the Abuse of Authority (CIAA) recently filed corruption charges against more than 100 community forests in the district. The charges alleged many school teachers were involved in the illegal felling of forest trees.[break]
All the schools in Jogbudha, Sirsha and Alital VDCs of the district were operating under the community forests´ financial supports for years.
“Running school after the cessation of the community forest´s funds has hit us hard. Without their financial support, operation of our school is impossible,” said Prem Singh Dhami Principal of Shaileshwori Secondary School.
After the CIAA charges, several teachers in the school too were barred from teaching as they faced corruption charges. “Four teachers of higher and lower secondary levels, who were charged with allegations, have been absent for days. We don´t know how we will run the school in such a situation,” said Dhami.
Besides Shaileshwori, the situation is similar in Siddhanath Secondary School, Bhageshwari Secondary School, Purna Giri Secondary School operating in Jogbudha VDC-1of the district, informed Dhami.
Parents of the students said the financial crisis in the school had left them wondering what to do next. They said the salary of the school employees - from helpers to teachers depended on the regular fund from the community forests. “Moreover, the schools are not allowed to collect fees from us as they are covering their expenses from the remaining amount," said a parent.
In Jogbudha VDC itself there are 11 secondary schools, in Sirsha VDC there are eight and in Alital VDC seven schools are in operation.
“The other donor agencies have already left the district and the only remaining hope was the community forests. Running schools without their financial support is impossible for us,” said Narayan Bhatta, teacher at Siddhanatha Secondary School.
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