Shillong: Rongma Kakija Government LP School in South Garo Hills is currently struggling under the weight of severe infrastructure failure and long-term teacher absenteeism. Located near the Nokrek Biosphere, the institution has served the remote community since the 1930s. However, residents report that a decade of administrative neglect has left local children without consistent access to quality education.
Local families claim the decline accelerated six years ago when Gacheng Ch Marak was assigned to the school. Villagers allege that he rarely conducted actual classes, often testing students on all subjects in a single day before issuing immediate results. One resident remarked, “Most of our children were not even aware of what grade they were in.”
Despite repeated efforts by villagers to file formal complaints in Baghmara, the education department failed to intervene for years. The academic impact was so profound that when new staff arrived two years ago, children were grouped by height because they lacked any knowledge of their previous academic standing. While the school now has three assigned teachers, attendance records indicate that Gacheng Ch Marak continues to take unauthorized leave.
The physical environment remains equally difficult. Currently, 58 students across seven grade levels share a single 18ft by 12ft room. Headmaster R Ch. Marak noted that managing seven classes in one small space creates a chaotic learning environment. While the school grounds have sufficient space for expansion, officials warn that progress is impossible without government support.
Civil society groups are now demanding accountability for the situation. Jish A Sangma, president of the Garoland Students’ Union, characterized the state of the school as “willful negligence” by both the assigned staff and the education department.
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