Manipur Education Minister Th Basanta Kumar on Wednesday assured to exempt examination fees for the Internally Displaced Students (IDS) who are staying in various relief camps.
He gave the assurance to the representatives of Socialist Students’ Union of Manipur (SSUM) during a meeting at his office quarter in Sanjenthong, Imphal on Wednesday.
President SSUM S Yaima said the union came across a video on social media which highlighted that students who are staying at relief camps are also paying the same amount of examination fees while filing up the forms. This has put a financial burden on IDS, he said.
Based on the viral video, the students’ union met education minister Th Basanta Kumar and highlighted the issues faced by the IDS.
During the meeting, Th Basanta Kumar assured to exempt the examination fees especially from the IDS for both schools and colleges. He also told the students’ union that the examination fees already charged from the students (IDS) during their form fill up will be returned back at the earliest.
Yaima was told by the minister that a necessary government order for the exemption of fees will be issued soon.
A student of Mangol Nganbi College, Ningthoukhong, Chanam Roshan, who also accompanied the students’ union, told the media that many of the IDS are struggling to attend schools and colleges during the prevailing unrest.
Paying examination fees has become a huge issue for IDS and their parents, he said, expressing his concern that students will not be able to appear for the examination if they fail to pay their examination fees.
“I have decided not to take my college examination as I have no money to pay for the exam fees. However, I appreciate the Education minister for his assurance to exempt examination fees for IDS,” Roshan said.
At present, thousands of students are staying at relief camps due to the present unrest.
