Two Students, Six Staff: Questions Raised Over Enrolment at Borkhola Girls’ School

A government girls’ school in Cachar’s Borkhola constituency has come under scrutiny after official records showed that only two students are enrolled while six staff members are posted at the institution.

According to government data, Borkhola Girls’ M.E. School currently has two girl students on its rolls. However, the school has three teachers, one Grade-IV employee and two mid-day meal cooks, taking the total number of staff members to six.

The issue has sparked concern among local residents, who have questioned the viability of running the school with such low enrolment. Some residents also alleged that the two enrolled students do not attend classes regularly.

Speaking to reporters, a local claimed that Headmaster Salim Uddin Laskar had previously approached local activists and intellectuals seeking help to increase enrolment and keep the school functioning. However, those efforts reportedly did not yield results.

The resident further alleged that the president of the school’s managing committee, Ilias Ali, who works as a driver, remains occupied with his professional responsibilities and is unable to devote sufficient attention to the affairs of the school. He appealed to Borkhola MLA Kishore Nath to intervene and help ensure the institution’s survival.

Responding to the concerns, Headmaster Salim Uddin Laskar said poor attendance remains a major challenge. He attributed the problem to the socio-economic condition of many families in the area.

According to the headmaster, many students come from economically weaker households where education is often not prioritised. He said children are frequently involved in household and livelihood-related work, including grazing livestock and collecting firewood from nearby hills, resulting in irregular attendance.

Local residents have suggested that instead of shutting down the institution entirely, the government should consider merging it with a nearby school. They have also called on the Education Department and district administration to examine the situation and take appropriate steps.