Theory of demand and supply : Draw of lots with a difference
- Sangai Express Editorial :: February 01, 2014 -

It is beyond a doubt.

The theory of demand and supply need not necessarily be interpreted in the strictest sense of economics, if one takes into consideration the thousands of parents who will line up or gather at the numerous Missionary Schools on February 1 to witness the draw of lots for the admission of their children to these schools.

A draw of lots with a difference.

With the Government issuing a strict directive that all schools should do away with the practise of admission test at the primary level, many private schools, especially the Missionary schools have opted for the draw of lots to decide who gets admitted and who gets omitted.

Such a practise may not be unique to Manipur, but it is astounding to see so many parents keen to put their children in any one of the Missionary schools.

And so it is that thousands of parents will be there at Little Flower School, St Joseph’s School, Catholic School, Canchipur and Nirmalabas High School on February 1.

Phenomenal is a term that comes to mind and at the same time this also throws open a number of questions, the answers to which may be easy in some cases and very hard in some other cases.

At one level it is easy to understand why parents flock to these schools while at another level it defies logic to explain the fixation or obsession of parents and guardians with Missionary schools.

Is it a case of only Missionary schools able to mould the young minds and bring out the best from the young children or is it a misconception on the part of the parents and guardians ?

True, every year when the HSLC examination result is declared, it is the Missionary schools which walk away with all the accolades, with some other private schools finding a random mention in the top 25 position.

Herein lies an interesting question, a question which everyone should sit up and raise.

Did the students of these Missionary schools make it to the merit list due to the sole efforts of the schools or do they too have to rely on the growing culture of private tuitions and tutorial centres which have mushroomed all over the place ?

A look at the reality would suggest the latter.

This is not to demean or run down the tremendous contributions of the Missionary schools in the field of education, but a change in the mindset of the parents and guardians is needed and immediately so.

True, education or educating a child cannot be a one way traffic.

It is not the sole prerogative of the schools to impart education and the role of parents and guardians in guiding and moulding their children cannot be over emphasised.

However the moot point is, if performance in the examination is going to be dictated by private tuitions or tutorial centres, then what does it say about the schools per se ?

This is not only about the Missionary schools, but about all the educational institutions in Manipur.

On the other hand, can we say that the rush, we would call it a mad rush, for Missionary schools is a reflection of how poorly managed the other private schools are ?

The less said about Government run schools the better it would be here, for they are nowhere in the competition, though there are some exceptions here and there.

It is natural for parents to want to send their children to the best institutions available, but are the parents really clear on what they want or expect from the schools, which they are after.

Have the thousands of parents sought admission for their children in the Missionary schools on the basis of the performance in the HSLC examination or are there something more ?

Or is it a case of parents just being overawed by the reputation of the schools, especially the Missionary schools ?

The best for our children, is the aspiration of every parents, but in searching for the best, it should be dictated and guided by rational thoughts and logical deductions.

What are the parameters of a good or excellent school or institution ?

Hope the thousands of parents who will line up for the draw of lots on February 1 have given some serious thoughts to the points raised here.