The Kangleipak Students’ Association (KSA) has raised serious concerns alleging Manipur Education Service (MES) of malpractices caused by the government.
KSA alleged that the appointed programme officers of Right to Education and assistant programme officers (right to education) are being absorbed into MES ranks without essential criteria.
During a press meet held at KSA office on Sunday, KSA HRD secretary Toijam Rana accused the government of undermining the integrity of MES, established to fortify the administration of the education department.
He highlighted that persons of MES II and MES III were appointed without essential criteria, as they have neither B.Ed degree nor 10 years of professional teaching experience.
Moreover, they did not go through the standard selection process conducted by the Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC) through the three-tier exams, the KSA alleged.
KSA pointed to the past irregularities, where individuals initially selected through contractual arrangements under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), were later regularised as Programme Officers (Right to Education) and Assistant Programme Officers (Right to Education).
Further, they were absorbed into MES Grades II and III in December 2022, contravening the Manipur Education Service Rule of 2012, the KSA said.
Although the High Court intervened to halt this absorption process, KSA claims that similar attempts are being made once again.
Moreover, the KSA alleged that the service rules have been changed to facilitate the absorption process.
The alteration, which removed the requirement of “not less than 10 years regular service in state government” for eligibility, raises questions about transparency and fairness in recruitment.
The KSA then urges the government to investigate these allegations promptly and take necessary action to rectify the situation.
