Fund paucity impeding science practical classes
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 07 2012: Meagre fund allocation has been cited as the main factor for science students of most of the Government colleges not able to undertake practical classes.

According to a source in the Directorate of Education (University & Higher Education) out of 20 Government colleges in the State where science stream are being opened only students of about eight institutions are fortunate enough to have regular practical classes.

For the rest of the colleges ambitions of science students are limited to only theory classes owing to limited fund allocation.

it is said that for the last academic session Rs 70 lakhs was allocated in the budget for these 20 science colleges which was slashed to only Rs 38 lakhs for the current session.

Contrary to the yearly requirement of about Rs 5-6 lakhs for purchasing laboratory materials for practical classes such as glassware, equipment and chemicals, the decline in the fund allocation is leading to shelving of practical lessons, said the source adding that in the past budgetary allocation for science colleges used to be fixed at a certain amount.

DM College of Science students attending a practical class

Citing an instance of the meagre budgetary provision hampering practical classes, the source said compound microscope used in science laboratories of Government colleges for the past many decades is called Olympus.

The Olympus compound microscope is also said to lack clarity thereby impeding observation of minute particles, normally associated with practical lessons, explained the source while suggesting the science colleges need to have German-made Laika compound microscopes.

Not only are the pictures distinctly clear in Laika microscope even tiny objects could be observed through display in screens for the said microscope have in-built digital component, maintained the source.

Difficulties being endured by these colleges have also been explained by DM College of Science Principal P Ranabir, who confided to The Sangai Express that annual laboratory fee of Rs 200 collected from each of the students are not enough to run the laboratories.

He stated that for a practical session a student need to have atleast three white rodents each costing Rs 70 at present and four shrimps valued at about Rs 20 each in addition to the need for procuring/ordering six sharks from outside Manipur at the rate of Rs 30 each.

As the practical fee collected from the students are inadequate to fund the practical classes DM College of Science has to divert funds provided by UGC as well as from the college development department, he maintained.

Noting that due to shortage of fund some other colleges could not have regular practical classes, Ranabir lack of laboratory facility in other colleges have resulted in DMC Science having over 1000 students this year.

Lamenting misfortune of science students in Manipur, he opined that until and unless budgetary allocation is reviewed and duly increased every year the goal of quality education will remain a far-fetched dream.

Some of the College students interacting with The Sangai Express conceded that their ambition to excel in their studies and become prominent citizens in the future is being impeded by lack of facility.