Re-opening schools and colleges : Time for all to introspect
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: September 16, 2014 -
Time for introspection. This is especially true for the Government and all those who went hammer and tongs against the decision of the State Government to order the closure of all educational institutions on September 11.
In ordering the closure of schools and colleges, the State Government did take a gamble though the jury is still out on whether the gamble was taken for the sake and safety of the students or was a ploy to take the sting out of the movement to demand the implementation of the Inner Line Permit System.
In all probability the barrage of criticism that was bound to come its way was foreseen and perhaps this explains why the Government had to turn to its spin wizards to justify its decision with some clever words.
For the safety and interest of the students, was the reason peddled for public consumption and the Government managed to send out the message that the decision was not a knee jerk reaction to a situation but that it came about after minute considerations.
That not everyone was taken in by the justification and explanation given by the Government can be discerned by the fact that there were sharp criticisms from the champions of the Inner Line Permit System as well as prodding questions from the public.
While this was something between the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System and the Government, this is also the right moment for everyone to question the fate and situation of students whenever there is any public agitation.
While there was nothing to suggest that students or their institutions were being targeted the scale of the unrest was such that it could not have given the parents and the guardians any comforting thoughts whenever their children stepped out to attend school and this calls for some pertinent questions.
The past is more than enough indication that more often than not students have been drawn into issues which should strictly be dealt with by adult members of the society.
Students being made to take part in protest rallies, demonstrations and at times even to take the lead whenever there is a clash with the Government is not something new. The people of Manipur have seen this and often at that.
School kids being shepherded out of their class rooms to take part in public rallies and stage protest demonstrations on issues which should ideally be handled by the adults are not alien to the State.
The Sangai Express has on more than one occasion made its stand clear that children should not be made to pursue any issues which are in the domain of the adults of society.
On the other hand there is the State Government which has not hesitated in using its muscle power against school children, all in the name of upholding the rule of law.
Goes against the universal understanding of how school kids should be treated and handled.
Now that children are back at their class rooms, let there be the realisation that for too long, the rights and privileges of young students have been violated under the garb of doing something constructive for society.
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