In Ranchi, Sarva Shiksha means 2 teachers, 180 students

So, where do these students sit? Some squat outside the room. On days when attendance is high, the verandah serves the purpose. ‘‘We teach juniors and seniors together,’’ says teacher Tetriya Kumari.

It was hardly surprising that a student of Class IV, when asked, fumbled with multiplication tables, and another could not divide 10 by two. His classmate said, ‘‘When we have not been taught multiplication or division, how can we answer your question?’’

But thanks to Tetriya, who takes classes regularly, these students at least know the English and Hindi alphabet. But the students are not too happy with the other teacher, Rashmi Kumari, who is an undergraduate student at a nearby college. ‘‘She attends her college regularly and rarely comes here to teach us,’’ said the students.

What about textbooks? The government is supposed to provide study material to schools run under the SSA free of cost. But students here have not received any.

But these students are still luckier than their counterparts in many other areas. In Adro, deep in the forest area of West Singhbhum district’s Manoharpur block, the SSA school is run under a tree. In Koyenjhari village, on the outskirts of Ranchi, classes are held in the backyard of the teachers’ house.

When contacted, Jharkhand principal secretary (Human Resources) A.K. Singh, said there were plans to solve these problems.

Jharkhand started the project four years back and roped in village committees to monitor it. The state boasts of having spent Rs 5.86 crore in the current fiscal on the project. JEPC’s latest data shows there are 17,843 SSA schools with 7.64 lakh students, and 17,948 lakh teachers employed on a monthly remuneration of Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 each.

But some government documents now in possession of The Indian Express, indicate several irregularities. The documents are in the form of complaints filed by members of over 24 village committees and queries raised by auditors of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. These indicate that:

• Salary was not being paid to teachers regularly.

• Teachers were to be provided residential training. But funds for it were misappropriated by arranging for non-residential training in Ranchi.

• Despite the SC directive, the Mid-day Meal Scheme had not been implemented in several schools.

• Enrollment was high, but absenteeism was common. “Efforts to retain children in schools are needed,’’ states a report prepared by the Jamshedpur-based XLRI.

• The department officials were office-bearers of the SSA’s executive committee at the district level. Instead of encouraging the JEPC and village committees to take decisions, the officials bought gadgets and furniture to earn cuts.

• Rs 2 crore of the SSA fund was diverted to the District Primary Education Project on May 31.

• Furniture worth Rs 2.65 lakh was bought using SSA funds and supplied to department officials for personal use in Ranchi.