Campaign to relieve educational sector of disturbances launched
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 15 2022:
The Coordinating Committee on Disturbance Free Educational Zone Demand has launched an intense campaign today against various elements that have caused disturbances to smooth functioning of the education sector.
Some of these issues include using students as a means to make ransom demands, planting bombs at schools and the problem of inadequate manpower and infrastructure pervading through schools of the State.
The day's campaign was marked by members of the committee and students of St Joseph's School coming together to form a human chain around noon and shouting various slogans in protest on the aforementioned issues at Sangaiprou near St Joseph's School.
|
It may be noted that the committee comprises of 15 noted organisations of the State including Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM), Apunba Imagi Machasing (AIMS), All Tribal Students Union, Manipur (ATSUM), All Manipur Students' Guardian Organisation (AMGSU) and Catholic Educational Society, Manipur (CESM), among others.
Protestors forming the human chain sported many placards with slogans like "Save students' rights", "Stop using students as weapons" etc.
Speaking to media persons by the sideline of the protest, M Somorjit Singh, general secretary, DESAM expressed his dissatisfaction saying that in the present climate, students in the State are unable to pursue their academic aspirations in a peaceful environment.
Citing the many problems pervading educational institutions of Manipur, he stated that due to lack of a proper education policy, Government school teachers that are transferred to other schools are not replaced.
There is also an unending stream of complaints regarding the Government's failure to appoint regular Principals in many Government schools, he added.
As such, he appealed to the State Government to implement an education policy that would ensure systematic transfer and posting of teachers.
The DESAM general secretary also touched upon the topic of frequent bandhs and blockades and opined that education must be treated as an essential service and be exempted from future bandhs/blockades of any kind.
The Government must acknowledge the harm done to the student community by way of frequent imposition of bandhs and take up appropriate steps to remedy the situation, he stressed.
M Somorjit further shared that July 5 will be observed as Disturbance Free Educational Zone Demand Day and many awareness programmes will be organised in the build up leading to the day across various localities.
A State-level debate competition will also be organised on July 5 which will be participated by many students, academics, intellectuals, CSOs and many subject experts, he said.
Lastly, he appealed to the public to lend their support to DESAM and the Coordinating Committee on Distur- bance Free Educational Zone Demand in their pursuit to ensure that all manners of obstacles that prevent smooth functioning of educational institutions across the State are eliminated.
Many student bodies have been urging all concerned to make education a disturbance free zone.