Cry to make education a free zone : More than just an appeal
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: July 07 2015 -
Students out on the street to urge that education be made a free zone.
It is more than just an appeal and this is where everyone ought to hang their heads in shame.
That different power players have been playing around with anything closely associated with education is something known to all and it says something significant that the Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) has come forward to urge everyone not to disturb the academic pursuit of the students.
That students feel compelled to come out on the streets, organise rallies and then follow this up with a meeting or two should underline the point of how the concept and understanding of education have been hit for a big six.
To think that this is happening in this age and time when education has become the by word for progress and development and it is something which should shame the people of the State.
From the Government to the numerous power players, everyone out there seem to be under the impression that the education of the young minds can be twisted to suit their needs.
Such a mindset and attitude came out in all its glory when Catholic schools were forced to shut down by some armed groups not so long back on one demand or the other.
Even today students are being herded from their schools and made to take part in agitation or protest march to demand something from the Government.
On the other hand the State Government too has been chipping in with its own brand of policies to deal a blow or two to the understanding of education.
The recent decision to order the closure of Bengali High School and Bengali Primary School is an apt example.
This is the age of education. A fact which should have registered in the minds of everyone, especially organisations which have all sprouted under one slogan or the other.
The same thing goes for the Government and its agencies as well. That students have been at the receiving end from all quarters is something known to all.
This was what gave birth to the All Manipur Students’ Union many decades back.
Time for all to come to the point that it is not only teachers, schools or colleges, students and parents but everyone who are responsible for the state of education here.
There are reasons why a student body like DESAM should feel constrained to come out on the roads and pitch in to make education a free zone.
Intrinsic in the cry or demand to make education a free zone is the point that for too long, educational institutions and students have been used to pursue a demand or two.
No doubt students power is acknowledged the all over the world but why involve the young students in issues which are ideally left to the adults of society ?
Why should so called adults of society come under the impression that students can be used to pursue a demand which should ideally be left as adult issues ?
For too long young students have been dragged into issues which should be dealt by the grown ups and it is a matter of shame that a student organisation feels constrained to come out on the streets to make education a free zone.
Time for everyone to think over this.
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