Gaighat, July 19

As many as 170 community schools in Udayapur that were receiving funds from the government, have been left in a lurch after the  government cut off the grant with effect from July 16.

A total of 70 schools from grade 1 to 5; 73 schools till grade 8, and 27 schools till grade 10 had been operating with PCF quota teachers.

“We have not received any written information from the education ministry yet, in this regard. So we don’t know whether we should tell the teachers to discontinue their service. There is not a single teacher with permanent status in those schools,” said District Education Officer Harihar Dhital.

District Education Officer Dhital said they could not even tell the quota teachers to continue as there was no fund to pay them.

“Around 12,000 students study in these community schools. Their future has become uncertain after the government stopped the grant,” said DEO Dhital.

“With the government move, we are left with no option other than to shut down the schools as there will not be a single teacher in those schools,” said Assistant District Education Officer Bhupendra Koirala.

Though the Ministry of Education stated that it had created 12,000 teaching posts under PCF quota last fiscal, it has not been able to implement the scheme.