New School Management Committee Formed at Gediapalli High School After Prolonged Dispute
KHORDHA, SEPTEMBER 5: After weeks of controversy, allegations and counter-allegations, a new School Management Committee (SMC) has finally been constituted at Gediapalli High School under Bolagarh block of Khordha district.
At a meeting convened to constitute the new committee, Kahnu Behera was unanimously elected chairman while Jharana Nayak was unanimously chosen as vice-chairperson. A total of 14 members have been nominated to the new committee, according to sources.
The formation of the new committee brings an end to a prolonged dispute over the constitution of the SMC at the school. The controversy had reportedly arisen over allegations of irregularities in the earlier process of committee formation, prompting the district administration to order an inquiry.
The School Management Committee is intended to play an important role in improving the overall functioning of schools by facilitating community and parental participation, strengthening the academic environment, promoting quality education and ensuring transparency in school administration. The participation of parents and teachers is an important component of the committee mechanism.
However, the process of constituting the SMC at Gediapalli High School had run into controversy over the past several weeks.
According to information available, the first meeting for constitution of the school management committee was held on July 10. The meeting was reportedly adjourned as the required number of parents were not present. A fresh meeting was subsequently convened on July 14.
It was during the second meeting that allegations of irregularities in the process of constituting the committee surfaced. Some local parents and residents alleged that the committee had not been constituted in a transparent and impartial manner as required under the rules. They further alleged that the process had been influenced by a local public representative.
The allegations led to resentment among a section of parents and local residents, who sought administrative intervention to resolve the issue.
On July 17, some parents submitted a written complaint before the Khordha District Collector, seeking an inquiry into the matter and appropriate action. Taking the complaint seriously, the District Collector reportedly entrusted the Bolagarh Block Education Officer with conducting an inquiry into the allegations.
Following the inquiry, the Block Education Officer submitted a report to the district administration. Sources said the report pointed to irregularities in the earlier process of constituting the committee.
After receiving the inquiry report, the District Collector directed that the previously constituted committee be dissolved and that a fresh committee be formed in accordance with the prescribed rules through a transparent, impartial and peaceful process.
Subsequently, the process for reconstituting the SMC was initiated on August 8. However, the exercise again faced difficulties. Allegations surfaced regarding the presence of some youths on the school premises during the meeting, leading to an unpleasant situation.
As the situation reportedly turned tense, the meeting had to be adjourned midway. The development prompted the administration to take further steps to ensure that the committee could be constituted without disruption.
Finally, following administrative directions, the SMC meeting was conducted peacefully under police security. The new committee was constituted in accordance with the prescribed procedure with 14 members.
Following the constitution of the committee, the members unanimously elected Kahnu Behera as chairman and Jharana Nayak as vice-chairperson.
The constitution of the new committee is expected to bring an end to the prolonged controversy and pave the way for greater focus on academic and developmental issues at the school.
Parents and local residents have expressed hope that the new committee will work towards strengthening the academic environment, improving educational standards and ensuring the overall development of students.
They also expect the committee to give priority to school infrastructure, better coordination between teachers and parents, student welfare and greater transparency in the functioning of the institution.
Local parents said the primary objective of an SMC should be to safeguard the interests of the school and ensure a better future for its students. They stressed that political influence or personal interests should not interfere with the functioning of the committee.
With the new committee now in place, parents and residents hope that the controversy surrounding its formation will remain a matter of the past and that the committee will work collectively and impartially for the development of Gediapalli High School and the welfare of its students.
Report:- Dillip Kumar Pattnaik
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