Manipur initiates action against 'medico' school teachers

The Manipur government has terminated the services of five primary school teachers, who were found skipping school classes to pursue their studies in the medical colleges of Manipur, an official said on Friday.

According to Manipur Education Minister Th. Radheshyam, he was surprised to find that some of these teachers are not just studying in the medical colleges of the state but even doing their internship from there -- all at the cost of classes in the schools for which they were receiving salaries regularly.

Th. Kirankumar, Director of Schools, said: "Termination orders have been issued against five primary school teachers, including a woman. They have been asked to refund the salaries and allowances they have taken so far within six months."

Under instructions from the Education Minister, the police have been asked to register cases of cheating and illegal withdrawal of salaries and allowances against these persons.

Officials feel that there could be some more school teachers studying or doing other government jobs while showing themselves present in their schools.

On Thursday, Kirankumar issued a termination order against Thangjam Vivekandnda, a primary school teacher. He was appointed as a teacher on September 25, 2012.

Vivekandnda had got admitted as an undergraduate student in the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences a month earlier -- on August 27, 2012.

Earlier, the Director had issued termination orders against Rubiya Huda, Anash Khan and Mohammad Taj, all primary school teachers. They were found to be medical students of J.N. Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal.

Another primary school teacher B.K. Namerby was found doing the M.Sc course in Meghalaya.

--IANS

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