By: Robert Lalmalsawm
Unless, the 'existing' schools are re-built and qualified teachers appointed the education system in most part of rural Manipur would never produce the desired result.
For the last one and half decade the hilly Tipaimukh sub-division of Churachandpur district in Manipur has witnessed the worst kind of official's negligence. Every State machinery in this region has fallen apart. There are, 'theoretically', many schools and teachers, primary health centres, government offices, post offices — the list is endless. However, none of these provision are 'practically' available.
What surprises the common man is that even most of the so-called NGOs' concerned are not in the position to see the real situation. They kept on saying, "We need schools... schools and schools for development." But how many of the so-called leaders know that Tipaimukh sub-division is one among the sub-divisions in the State having the highest number of schools in Manipur? Forget about the private schools, there are as many as 36 government schools: 5 High Schools, 14 Jr High Schools, 11 JB Schools, and 6 LP Schools to be precise.
The wonder of wonders is that these schools are simply in papers or there are no schools, teachers, students or all of them. Even those teachers who still draw their salary from the State treasury by being 'teachers' in these 'schools' are happily settled in towns and cities. A common man is baffled as there are no helicopter service to take them to these remote schools within hours and bring them back to their homes again after attending the classes.
If these are the teachers who are teaching our children then we can expect no more. Imagine the effect it will have on the Manipuri society after 20 years from now. Worst of all, if we let this to continue, we can be sure that a day is not far away when sons and daughters will their asks parents what they have done to their life. They will one day question this generation as to why we have neglected their basic right.
Historians will write off this generation as the "GenX of Hmars (the people settled in Tipaimukh sub-division) who do not know how to demand their right". They will also ascribe the government as a "clueless government" with no energy to a step outside the State capital.
If you are to go to Tipaimukh sub-division to specifically count how many of these schools are actually functioning you will be surprise to see that there are just a handful of delipadated structures. Even those would be having few students or no students and teachers at all. These schools are 'normal' (by government standard) but the Hmar Students' Association (HSA), which claimed to be fighting for the students' interest is no longer normal. Many are voicing doubts whether HSA job is to simply exist in papers just like the State education department. Or, is it the indifferent attitude of the State government towards the hapless hill people in this part of Manipur.
If HSA was really interested for better education facilities in Tipaimukh sub-division it could have at least organise a protest or put pressure on the government. The association must take pro-active steps to set the wheel running again in the 'existing' schools in the way meriting to produce good education to the people living in Tipaimukh sub-division.
The State government should also realise that neglecting education in the long run will only bring in more trouble for Manipur as the number of unemployed is increasing every year. At this crucial juncture in the history of Manipur, when there is threat to the very fabric of the integrity of the State, the need for proper education is most felt.
Education must be made the prime foundation of Manipur's complex society. Re-building the fallen schools would be an arduous task but it is worth taking up the challenge. Investing in education always pay back.
As a citizen the civil society must make it known to the government that education is their right. They should not be reluctant to sit for days in front of the Chief Minister's office or his residence, even if it takes days and months, until he and his entire Cabinet took notice of the alarming situation.
Unless, the 'existing' schools are re-built and qualified teachers appointed the education system in most part of rural Manipur would never produce the desired result. Take for instance, in the last 10 years, there has been no record of a single person passing out from Pherzawl High School!
How long will the government slumber and ignore the sorry state-of-affairs in its 'backyard'. The urgency in addressing the education system is now felt by not an individual but by the whole society. Most parents in Manipur now preferred sending their children to study outside the State even for their primary level.
With the crucial Hmar Students' Association's General Assembly coming up in December 11-13, later this year, at Vairengte in Mizoram, the Chief Minister and his colleagues must act fast. The HSA session, according to sources in the organisation, is likely to scan Manipur government's attitude towards the Hmars in particular besides other issues.
It is time for the government to realise that the State cannot afford to 'building' more schools. It is useless to have schools that do not function and teachers who refuses to perform their duty. Sincere effort and fearless action must be taken by concerned authorities to deal with officials who have taken the State for a ride. It is not only injustice meted out to the rural children but it is a shame written on our callous corrupt ridden faces.
The government must take up educational issue as a priority with target objective without any further delay. Tipaimukh sub-division like-situation is the order of the day in other sub-divisions also. The government would be much more successful if it focus its attention on re-building the 'existing' infrastructure 'right now' rather than waiting for the 'right moment' time and again.
**The writer is a journalist based in Bangalore
Source: http://www.kanglaonline.com/index.php?template=kshow&kid=1018&Idoc_Session=e17249d2bf8e17f1023cc729f6b1b657
Unless, the 'existing' schools are re-built and qualified teachers appointed the education system in most part of rural Manipur would never produce the desired result.
For the last one and half decade the hilly Tipaimukh sub-division of Churachandpur district in Manipur has witnessed the worst kind of official's negligence. Every State machinery in this region has fallen apart. There are, 'theoretically', many schools and teachers, primary health centres, government offices, post offices — the list is endless. However, none of these provision are 'practically' available.
What surprises the common man is that even most of the so-called NGOs' concerned are not in the position to see the real situation. They kept on saying, "We need schools... schools and schools for development." But how many of the so-called leaders know that Tipaimukh sub-division is one among the sub-divisions in the State having the highest number of schools in Manipur? Forget about the private schools, there are as many as 36 government schools: 5 High Schools, 14 Jr High Schools, 11 JB Schools, and 6 LP Schools to be precise.
The wonder of wonders is that these schools are simply in papers or there are no schools, teachers, students or all of them. Even those teachers who still draw their salary from the State treasury by being 'teachers' in these 'schools' are happily settled in towns and cities. A common man is baffled as there are no helicopter service to take them to these remote schools within hours and bring them back to their homes again after attending the classes.
If these are the teachers who are teaching our children then we can expect no more. Imagine the effect it will have on the Manipuri society after 20 years from now. Worst of all, if we let this to continue, we can be sure that a day is not far away when sons and daughters will their asks parents what they have done to their life. They will one day question this generation as to why we have neglected their basic right.
Historians will write off this generation as the "GenX of Hmars (the people settled in Tipaimukh sub-division) who do not know how to demand their right". They will also ascribe the government as a "clueless government" with no energy to a step outside the State capital.
If you are to go to Tipaimukh sub-division to specifically count how many of these schools are actually functioning you will be surprise to see that there are just a handful of delipadated structures. Even those would be having few students or no students and teachers at all. These schools are 'normal' (by government standard) but the Hmar Students' Association (HSA), which claimed to be fighting for the students' interest is no longer normal. Many are voicing doubts whether HSA job is to simply exist in papers just like the State education department. Or, is it the indifferent attitude of the State government towards the hapless hill people in this part of Manipur.
If HSA was really interested for better education facilities in Tipaimukh sub-division it could have at least organise a protest or put pressure on the government. The association must take pro-active steps to set the wheel running again in the 'existing' schools in the way meriting to produce good education to the people living in Tipaimukh sub-division.
The State government should also realise that neglecting education in the long run will only bring in more trouble for Manipur as the number of unemployed is increasing every year. At this crucial juncture in the history of Manipur, when there is threat to the very fabric of the integrity of the State, the need for proper education is most felt.
Education must be made the prime foundation of Manipur's complex society. Re-building the fallen schools would be an arduous task but it is worth taking up the challenge. Investing in education always pay back.
As a citizen the civil society must make it known to the government that education is their right. They should not be reluctant to sit for days in front of the Chief Minister's office or his residence, even if it takes days and months, until he and his entire Cabinet took notice of the alarming situation.
Unless, the 'existing' schools are re-built and qualified teachers appointed the education system in most part of rural Manipur would never produce the desired result. Take for instance, in the last 10 years, there has been no record of a single person passing out from Pherzawl High School!
How long will the government slumber and ignore the sorry state-of-affairs in its 'backyard'. The urgency in addressing the education system is now felt by not an individual but by the whole society. Most parents in Manipur now preferred sending their children to study outside the State even for their primary level.
With the crucial Hmar Students' Association's General Assembly coming up in December 11-13, later this year, at Vairengte in Mizoram, the Chief Minister and his colleagues must act fast. The HSA session, according to sources in the organisation, is likely to scan Manipur government's attitude towards the Hmars in particular besides other issues.
It is time for the government to realise that the State cannot afford to 'building' more schools. It is useless to have schools that do not function and teachers who refuses to perform their duty. Sincere effort and fearless action must be taken by concerned authorities to deal with officials who have taken the State for a ride. It is not only injustice meted out to the rural children but it is a shame written on our callous corrupt ridden faces.
The government must take up educational issue as a priority with target objective without any further delay. Tipaimukh sub-division like-situation is the order of the day in other sub-divisions also. The government would be much more successful if it focus its attention on re-building the 'existing' infrastructure 'right now' rather than waiting for the 'right moment' time and again.
**The writer is a journalist based in Bangalore
Source: http://www.kanglaonline.com/index.php?template=kshow&kid=1018&Idoc_Session=e17249d2bf8e17f1023cc729f6b1b657
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