The Hindu : Quality of education declining

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 14, 2003

Other States

Other States - Manipur

Quality of education declining

By Our Correspondent

IMPHAL APRIL 13. The financial crunch being faced by the Manipur Government has led to a moratorium on appointment of teachers and there is a move to retrench teachers considered surplus. This, in turn, has affected the quality of education in Government schools.

Students' groups fear this will affect them. As many teachers are retiring or out of service due to accident, illness etc., there will be a crippling shortage of instructors.

The Government is also concerned over the fact that the performance of the Government schools is always below the mark. This is despite the fact that the teachers are well paid. Teachers in private schools are not paid well but students from these schools always top all examinations. Inmate schools also face the threat from extortionists. Reports say that several parish priests connected with education have been gunned down while some others left for dead have miraculously survived. They had refused to pay "tax" to some underground organisations.

The non-availability of textbooks every year is aggravating the situation. Charges are traded among officials, publishers and others. During the last budget session of the Manipur Assembly, the members visited several bookshops to verify the stock position. Teachers are also not amused that textbooks are changed every year in the background of the allegation that some officials and writers "come to an understanding."

Meanwhile, tribal students have been resorting to agitations demanding posting of teachers in the interior hill areas. Recently, they blocked National Highway 39, lifeline of Manipur, for days together. The agitation was called off when the Chief Minister, Okram Ibobi, assured them that teachers would be sent soon. Teachers from the valley never go to the hill areas. In collusion with some corrupt officials they have been getting their salary here.

Mass copying has been another problem in this State. A majority of the students who imbibed sub-standard education and passed the examination mostly through copying and "help" from some teachers and invigilators fail to get employment. The Kanglei Yawol Kunna Lup (KYKL) militants launched operation New Kangleipak in January 1999, to spruce up the education system. The education director, some high officials, university, college and school teachers had been kneecapped while at least one teacher was gunned down for their alleged unethical practices. The School Education Minister, Maniruddin Sheikh, was given the "death sentence" in absentia for his alleged corruption; the Minister has denied the charge.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

Stories in this Section

Quality of education declining

500 Hmar tribals flee to Manipur