Silchar Collegiate Teachers Hit Back At Corruption Claims

Teachers of Silchar Collegiate School on Monday (July 6) rejected allegations published in sections of the local media accusing seven teachers of corruption and of preventing the school’s proposed merger with Ramkrishna Mission. Addressing a press conference, the teachers said the allegations were false and maintained that the school’s accounts had been audited up to the last financial year. They also claimed that repeated newspaper reports had affected admissions by creating confusion among parents.

The press conference was held in Silchar on July 6 in response to reports based on allegations made by an Abhibhabak Sangha. According to those reports, the parents’ body alleged that seven teachers were opposing the merger of Silchar Collegiate School with Ramkrishna Mission to protect their own interests. The reports stated that the association had submitted a memorandum with the signatures of 102 parents in 2022 seeking the merger and later submitted another memorandum carrying 27 signatures between 2023 and 2025. The reports further claimed that written support for the merger had been received from several organisations, including the Assam University Teachers’ Association, the History Medieval Association South-East Zone, the Rotary Club of Silchar Barak Valley Branch, the Tripura Primary Teachers’ Association and other organisations.

The newspaper reports also carried allegations of financial irregularities. The parents’ body alleged that books with a printed price of Rs 220 were sold to students for Rs 655, sweaters available in the market for around Rs60 to Rs 80 were sold for Rs 300 and exercise books purchased for Rs 30 to Rs 35 were sold for Rs 60. It further alleged that money was collected from students in the name of Saraswati Puja despite the school being a government institution. The reports also alleged that examination questions were written on classroom blackboards before examinations, compromising the secrecy of question papers. According to the reports, the parents’ body claimed that such practices would come to an end if the school was merged with Ramkrishna Mission.

Refuting the allegations, the teachers said the school’s accounts had been audited up to the last financial year and denied allegations of financial irregularities. They said Higher Secondary enrolment had declined in 2023, improved subsequently and had again started falling following the publication of the reports. According to the teachers, the reports had confused parents and adversely affected student admissions.

The teachers said they wanted Silchar Collegiate School to continue as an independent institution and urged the government to run the school. They maintained that the school has adequate land and financial resources but lacks a proper administrative body. They said the purpose of the press conference was to place their version on record and refute the allegations published in the newspapers.