On common policy for Pvt Schools : Indifferent Government
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: June 29 2015 -
Not at all a comfortable thought.
That is the failure of the Government to frame a policy for the privately run or managed educational institutions in the State.
This is all that more unacceptable when one takes into account the fact that it is the private schools which have been producing the best students for decades.
That it has taken a student organisation, the All Manipur Students’ Union in this case, to urge the State Government to frame a policy wherein all privately run or managed educational institutions have certain uniformity, says something significant.
Same academic calendar may not be possible for schools which come under different boards such as the schools which are affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education, the Indian Council of School Education and the Board of Secondary Education, Manipur.
But it makes absolute sense for all schools affiliated to the same board to have some uniformity in their academic calendar such as the start of a new session and when the annual examinations are held.
Why should schools be left to function only at the convenience of the owner or management or board of governors ?
Some sort of a uniformity will certainly go some way in ensuring uniformity amongst the young students.
It was not only academic calendar that the student talked about but also other points such as the admission fees, tuition fees, transport system, syllabus and curriculum.
Not certain whether it is practical or even desirable for all private schools to charge the same fees and stick to the same syllabus, that is before the students appear for their board exams, but significant to note that such a point has been raised.
Similar curriculum is another important point that was raised by AMSU some days back.
Difficult to say whether it would be possible for all schools to have similar curriculum, but such a suggestion will help in encouraging not only private schools but all schools to promote healthy competition and team spirit.
It is here that different schools may come together and chalk out plans of organising inter-school meets in sports and cultural activities.
Avenues to organise inter-school competition in debating, elocution, quiz etc may also be explored.
Academic pursuit is more than about the board exams and class rooms but also other activities such as sports and cultural activities.
Would do well for all schools to give a serious thought to this.
Uniform tuition fees and admission fees were also talked about by AMSU during the media interaction.
Tough to say if this will be applicable to all the schools as the quality of amenities offered in all the schools are not similar.
However efforts to standardise the salaries paid to the school teachers and other staff may be taken up.
A pity it is that private school teachers continue to be paid a such pittance that all of them have to rely on offering private tuition classes to make ends meet.
It is the parents and guardians, again, who have to meet the extra expenses that private tuitions entail.
This point was not touched by AMSU, but it is something which the Government ought to look into.
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