Imphal, July 31: Irrigation and Flood Control Minister N Mangi has stated that the State Government is assessing the feasibility of transferring graduate and post-graduate muster roll employees of the IFC Department to Education Department.

Replying to a question raised by Andro kendra MLA S Chandra during question hour today, the Minister said out of 1308 employees several graduate and post-graduate muster roll employees eligible for conversion as work charge are presently employed with the IFCD and utilizing their services as teachers would be considered.

Elaborating further the IFC Minister said Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh will be consulted on the matter.

Mentioning that rules exist for conversion of muster roll employees as work charge and then on regular basis on completion of ten years each in service, Mangi said previous Governments had failed to comply with the regulation.

Due to lack of rules on service period of muster roll employees some employees have crossed the personal age of 70/80 years but were still engaged in department activities, highlighted the Minister.

New text books: SCERT Minister Z Mangaibou replying to a question raised by MLA O Joy Singh stated that the State Government is seriously engaged in the process to implement the new text books recommended by the SCERT under the new syllabus from classes I to VIII from the coming academic session.

The Minister commented that a 32 member State Level Committee on New Syllabus and New Text Book has been constituted to oversee its content and implementation.

Workshops are being conducted towards this end.

He also mentioned that efforts are being made for adequate production and availability of the new text books within December this year.

Blaming the publishers for their inability to produce the books within the stipulated period of forty days resulting in various complications for its implementation in the present academic session, O Joy lamented that renewed process being undertaken presently is also too late.

Mention may be made that due to shortage of text books in the market for the present academic session State Govt had to contend with several organizations which had kicked up a ruckus over the issue Grant-in-aid school: There are 650 teachers for 252 elementary levels and 52 for 13 secondary level schools at the hill districts of Manipur that are provided grant-in-aid, said Minister of State (School Education) Radhakishore while replying to a question from Chandel Assembly Constituency MLA BD Behring.

The Minister also stated that' for grant-in-aid schools in the valley districts 680 teachers are deputed for 249 elementary level schools and 363 teachers for 90 secondary levels schools.

Replying to another question raised by Karong kendra MLA PS Henry Paotei, the Education Minister said no science graduate teacher's posts have been created separately for the hill district schools.

However, Science teachers are posted to the hill schools, he added.

According to the Minister out of 678 Science graduate teachers appointed 326 have been deputed to serve at high and higher secondary schools while the remaining have been posted to junior high schools.

Higher Education: Higher Education Minister Dr T Meinya announced at the House today that the Higher Education Commission constituted in March, 2003 has begun its activities to promote quality education in the State.

Dr Meinya was replying to a question raised by Thanga kendra MLA Salam Ibohal.

The Minister also iterated that as a retired Vice Chancellor of a University in Kerala was appointed as the Chairman of the Commission some difficulties arose which hampered the expeditious execution of the assigned tasks.

The Commission also failed the 90 day deadline set for furnishing detailed report on the matter.