Studying the fate of young students : Time to give them a thought
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: July 23 2015 -

The All Manipur Recognised Private Schools Welfare Association has already spelt out its stand and that is to open all private schools in the State from July 23.

A number of Government school teachers too have spoken out in favour of resuming normal classes.

A number of student bodies too have spoken out in favour of re-opening schools.

It is only the Government that remains to be convinced.

On the other hand the Joint Students’ Union of Government Higher Secondary Schools has announced that it will not suspend the class boycott agitation until and unless the Government passes a Bill to protect the indigenous people from the continuing incursion of non-local people into Manipur.

Different takes on the same issue and there are reasons why the Government cannot see eye to eye with these organisations over the question of re-opening schools.

For those who have been following the news, it should be clear that the Government ordered the closure of all schools after a Class XI student of Ananda Singh Higher Secondary Academy, Sapam Robinhood, was killed in police action on July 8.

This was not the first time that students clashed with police in the ongoing agitation and as things have shown, this was not the last either.

The question now is whether it would be in the interest of the land and the people to re-open schools or let the status quo continue.

Tough to say for the question involves the young students and their academic future on the one hand and the need to restore normalcy.

No one would say that the time is opportune to send young students to school and no one would be able to say that it is definitely better for the students to remain at home.

Central to the line of thought that has been enumerated here is the fate of thousands of students.

Young students who should be in the middle of their academic year are today forced to stay at home and in some cases take part in street battles with cops.

Not at all a situation prescribed for students.

Has the closure of schools really stopped students from taking part in the ongoing protest to demand a Bill that seeks to protect the indigenous population ? Tough to say.

The Government is yet to take a final call on re-opening schools, but significant to note that thoughts were given on deploying police at the schools to counter any move that seeks to mobilise students from their institutes.

That the idea of the Government was shot down in no uncertain terms is also equally significant.

Not surprising for ideally educational institutions should be off limits for men in uniform.

Difficult to say which way the wind will blow, but good for everyone to remember that what is at stake here is the future of the young students.

A good number of them must be in Class X and Class XII, crucial times for every students when each day counts.

For students who study under the Board of Secondary Education, Manipur and Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur, the respective authorities may give some leeway to the young students at the time of exams, but how about students who study in schools affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education ?

Sincere efforts are certainly needed to ensure that no one plays around with the future of young students.