Union Minister of State for Education RK Ranjan on Sunday stressed for an urgent need to give more emphasis and thrust to improve school education in Manipur stating that it is in the 7th inferior level.
“The matter is serious. Our future generation will not be able to compete if a solution is not sorted out,” RK Ranjan told mediapersons on the sideline of a press meet held at the BJP office in Imphal.
Ranjan, who made a recent visit to Chandel district, said the only aspirational district of Manipur (Chandel) is one of the worst performing districts in the education sector.
Nevertheless, he said the government is committed to finding the loopholes in the education sector and taking up the necessary measures to make education more accountable and affordable.
“Developmental progress can be seen. However, we need a much bigger approach to improve all the sectors, especially education and health,” he said.
In the Health sector, he pointed out the need that the district needs infrastructure and doctors among others.
Considering the porous border in the district with Myanmar, the MoS informed that the government under the Home Affairs Ministry will soon issue special ID cards for the citizens settling in the border area to monitor the influx of illegal immigrants.
As per the overall findings, there is a lack of step-wise categorical process in the development works, he said, adding that the matter will be apprised to the concerned ministers of the state government to bring speedy development in the district.
Citing the announcement made by the chief minister about establishing medical colleges in Churachandpur, Chandel and Thoubal districts, he suggested the chief minister give priority to Chandel as it is an aspirational district.
Problem of lack of teachers, classrooms in schools persists
Meanwhile, Manipur Education Minister Thounaojam Basanta Kumar on Saturday inspected the conditions of various government schools located within Wangkhei assembly constituency and listened to the grievances of the teachers, keeping in view of the state’s preparation for commencing the new academic session especially for Class XI.
The minister was accompanied by local MLA Thangjam Arunkumar, education (S) director L Nandakumar and other department officials.
The team visited Ananda Singh Higher Secondary Academy, Lamlong Higher Secondary School and Nongmeibing Primary School among others.
During interaction with the teachers, the education minister noted the inconveniences such as inadequate number of classrooms, lack of teaching staff for certain subjects, etc. arising out of the amalgamation of government schools.
Principal of Lamlong Higher Secondary School L Kamala highlighted the need for expanding the number of classrooms with the increase in the strength of students.
She drew their attention to set up a full-fledged practical room and laboratory to facilitate learning through practicals and experiments.
The teachers especially those of Manipuri and Hindi subjects also highlighted that the number of teachers is not adequate compared to the number of students and requested the team to initiate necessary steps in this regard.
The minister assured to look into the possibility of fulfilling their demands and exhorted the teachers to strive for high pass percentage since the school reported considerably low pass percentage in recently concluded HSLC exam.
Likewise, at Ananda Singh Higher Secondary Academy, the school principal and teachers pointed out that the lower classes are suffering as there are no classrooms available for them.
Minister Basanta and the department officials expressed that the school can emphasise on higher secondary level as there are other schools available for lower classes.
It is said that the school has only 14 classrooms at present. The team assessed the feasibility to dismantle the old block and construct a new building for expanding the number of classrooms or to consider vertical expansion of the new block.
The same problem for having inadequate number of teachers for Manipuri and Hindi subjects was also apprised to the minister.
Teachers and staff of both Lamlong Higher Secondary School and Ananda Singh Higher Secondary Academy urged the team to carry out proper demarcation and fencing works as well.
Meanwhile, during inspection at Nongmeibung Primary School, the teachers appealed to the minister to see if the amalgamation of the school with Thamchet High School can be stayed in the interest of survival of the school.
The minister assured that he will study the possibility of doing so but advised the teachers to give priority on producing good students wherever they are posted.
Good education can help reduce substance abuse
Stressing the need for good education as the key to development and the panacea to all social illness, Thanga MLA T Robindro said it is not only book-based but also the positive vibes and discipline which a person learns from the surroundings.
Robindro was speaking at the 6th Award Function of Meritorious Students cum Drug Awareness Programme organised by the Brother’s Development Association at Moirang Khunou in Bishnupur district.
Without good morals and discipline, the grades achieved by the students will be meaningless, said the MLA, apprising the students to maintain good morals and discipline and always stay away from abusive substances.
Talking about the drug issue in the state, he said drug abusers are not the only victims of drug abuse in the society. A drug abuser may lead to the economy of the family and may even commit domestic violence and even other crimes, he added.
Stating that the family members and parents play an important role to prevent the youngsters from uses of drugs and other abusive substances, he stressed the need to give proper awareness to the youngsters as their mindsets are not stable and can be easily influenced to drugs through peer-pressure.
Pointing out that the War on Drugs mission of the state government will be a failure without the support and cooperation of the public, he apprised all the local clubs and Meira Paibis to actively participate in the war on drugs mission.
The MLA also wished all the successful students good luck in their future endeavours. “Those who did not make it to the exam, just remember that it is not the last. There is always a second chance, never give up,” he encouraged.
The function was also attended by pradhan of Moirang Khunou GP L Dhaneshwar among others.
