Investigation: The principal of Narang primary school in Mongar, Phuntsho Wangdi, is facing investigation for possible corruption and administrative lapses.

Sources from the school claimed that the principal takes unilateral decisions and do esnot consult the staff. Students claimed that the principal has overtaken the role of mess-in-charge and they are given poor quality meal.

“There is a possibility that the principal is misusing budget,” said a student, who requested anonymity. “We don’t understand why meal quality suffered so badly all of a sudden.”

Mess-in-charge of the school, Sonam Zangpo said that he received many complaints from students pertaining to meal quality. “I didn’t know the claim amount from dzongkhag and expenditure statements because the principal handles the mess.”

Phuntsho Wangdi said that whatever he did, he did for the welfare of the students, and that he handed over the bills to the mess-in -charge.

Students claimed that the principal has taken the school’s TV home and uses it for his personal viewing.

A teacher claimed the principal doesn’t allow students to use the school’s computers, which has been lying idle in office for more than three years. Phuntsho Wangdi said that teachers have been issued one computer. Lack of experts and technicians in the school is a problem, he added.

A teacher claimed that Nu 100 security deposit is collected from boarding students and Nu 50 from day scholars. The school has a total of 234 students. But there is no record of reimbursement. Phuntsho Wangdi said that if a particular student damages school properties, refurbishment will be done from the student’s security deposit. He added that the office has maintained a clear record of funds used so far.

PhuntshoWangdi is also accused of having misused ECCD budget of Nu 60,000 and producing fake cash memos.

Chief dzongkhag education officer Passang Dorji’s investigation on April 19 found that the school lacked transparency and clear job delegation among staff.

Tashi Phuntsho