BSEM caught in an illegal act
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: April 08, 2011 -

SARVA SHIKSHA Abhiyan (SSA) text books have been found being sold in book stores. This is the pits. We really have reached rock bottom in corruption and moral degradation.

The SSA earlier on supplied text books free to children who belonged to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category. This emphasis was changed and now under the scheme, all students studying in government schools are provided text books for free. In order to distinguish these books, the SSA hologram is clearly embossed on the books.

That these books were being used for profit making purposes was discovered by the Manipur Students’ Federation (MSF). The MSF had undertaken a drive against book stores selling text books.

The drive had been motivated by the fact the Board of Secondary Education, Manipur (BSEM) was unable to supply text books in time.

The academic session has already started but most schools are not fully functional because of the unavailability of text books. This is an annual feature of the BSEM. An infuriated MSF apparently wanted to take a first hand stock of the ground reality in stores selling text books. This is how the MSF came across this nasty surprise of finding SSA text books on open sale.

We are now faced with the uncomfortable possibility that students studying in government schools, for whom the SSA books are meant, are being denied their due rights. Civil organisations and associations should make a survey to find out whether students in government schools get their text books in time.

If this is not so then the question to be asked is whether the BSEM is involved. There are capable organisations who could unearth this racket and if they set about to undertake such a task we wish them the very best.

Almost every body knows that there are a large number of extraneous factors behind decisions to choose compilers of BSEM text books, preparation of syllabi and choosing printing presses.

Compilers sit on their work leading to extended delay in preparing the syllabi, and after all the delay the manuscripts reach the press which is short of the wherewithal to carry out the work of printing the text books. These factors have led to a deterioration in the quality and substance of BSEM text books.

One has only to go through the text books approved by the Board of Secondary Education, Nagaland (BSEN). The first striking thing one will come across is the lack of errors, and the second is the obvious difference in content and substance. You will come to the undeniable realisation that the authority in Nagaland care much more for its students and of school education than we do.

The quality of teaching in government schools in Manipur is such that only the poorest of the poor send their children to such schools. Even low wage earners like rickshaw drivers, masons or shop assistants send their children to private schools.

The government tries its best to help in this exodus by leaving government school buildings in a shambles, sometimes with no toilet facilities. It is schools with underpaid teachers (peanuts compared to the big fat salaries enjoyed by government school teachers) which attract parents keen on giving a good start in education to their children.

And in such a situation what does the BSEM do? It deprives text books to non government schools where the majority of Manipur’s school children study.

One thing to remember is that the SSA books found in book stores still had the SSA hologram. The public seek an explanation of exactly what is being done with SSA text books and who are the real culprits behind the scam.