Students of six government schools in Thoubal district carried out a peace rally and staged a sit-in protest for a disturbance-free educational zone at the district headquarter Thoubal on Saturday.
The protest, organised by the Government School Students' Committee, Thoubal district, saw the participation of students of Chaoyaima Higher Secondary School Thoubal, Khangabok Higher Secondary School Khangabok, Lilong Higher Secondary Madrasa, Lilong, Lamding Higher Secondary School Lamding, Sangaiyumpham Higher Secondary Sangaiyumpham and Heirok Higher Secondary School Heirok.
The rally started at Khangabok Higher Secondary School and concluded at Yairipok Lamkhai near Chaoyaima Higher Secondary School. Placards that read, "Reopen schools immediately", “We are future pillars, protect us”, and "We want peace" were displayed during the protest.
The Government School Students Committee, Thoubal president, Narengbam Changkhonba Meitei said the prevailing situation has greatly affected the underprivileged students studying in government schools.
While private school students have been taking extra coaching, the underprivileged cannot afford to pay for private tuition as they have been earning for themselves, he added.
He said that some of the students have been earning their fees by selling newspapers and by taking up odd jobs. It will be hard to compete with the students who take extra coaching, said Changkhonba.
He said the state government has failed to reopen educational institutes till date. It was initially announced to reopen schools on June 21 and later deferred to July 1, and now July 8, he added.
Changkhonba said the committee was formed to demand the authorities concerned to make education a disturbance-free zone.
He added that a memorandum was submitted to ZEO Thoubal on June 27, demanding the resumption of classes, particularly for class X and XII students and not to cause any disturbance in schools.
The memorandum also warned of various agitations from July 1 if the students did not get a positive response.
He further said that as per the state government’s order on Friday, the reopening of schools has been deferred till July 8. The protest was organised by the students on Saturday condemning the government order.
