Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, December 21, 2009:
With no student turned up to their respective schools Monday, another effort of Manipur government to resume normal classes in schools, colleges and other institutions foiled.
In the meantime, taking serious note on the non-resumption of the classes, Chief Minister, O Ibobi has mooted to handover the task of resumption of classes to the MLAs who will be responsible for the commencement of the classes in the schools in their respective constituencies.
Chief Minister convened a meeting with the MLAs of Bishnupur district and discussed on the matter of re-opening of schools in the district.
He reportedly instructed the MLAs present in the meeting to take responsibilities of re-opening schools in their respective constituencies.
Informing that some schools in Imphal west and east have started conducting classess, he asked the MLAs to hold consultation with the parents, guardians, principals, headmasters and school authorities of the schools for conducting classes.
However, when reporters visited some places in Bishnupur district, schools were found remaining close.
In some schools teacher were seen at the schools but no students turned up.
Most of the schools in four valley districts in Imphal remaining close for the last nearly four months after three students bodies�All Manipur Students Union (AMSU), Manipuri Students� Federation (MSF) and Kangleipak Students� Association (KSA)- launched indefinite class boycott stir from September 9 last.
Despite no response to earlier appeals made by government, another stern directive to all schools was issued on last Friday asking all schools (government and recognized private schools) to resume normal classes from December 21 without fail.
The instruction also warned that government will not allow promotion to next class without appearing examination specially for Standard X, XI and XII.
Schools were opened but no students turned up to attain class even though very few schools in the heart of the Imphal city conduct the classes as usual around a month back responding to the appeals of the guardians and parents bodies in which government also assure of security.
Government schools were remaining opened but without class since the government�s instruction in mid November in the wake of guardians and parents calls for resumption of class.
"We open our schools everyday except on holiday and Sunday but as students do not turned up school, we could not resumed class till date," a principal of government school in Imphal east who was in his office said.
However, very few schools located in the heart of the tight security Imphal city, TG Higher Secondary School, GP College, DM Colleges of Science, Arts and Commerce, CC Higher Secondary School conduct normal classes.
These schools are conducting normal classes since the middle week of November.
No class conducted in private schools in the outskirt of Imphal city as they feared of arson by the class boycott supporters.
Mention may be made that as many as class boycott supporters had torched as many as four schools for defying the class boycott stir since first week of November.
Private schools are feared of befalling the misfortune of arson to their schools when they open their schools responding to government orders even though they are willing to conduct classes considering for the students.
"We wanted to open and conduct class but we are helpless," another principal of a private school disclosed giving a hint that once arson take place, the looser is only for them.
Amidst the chaos situation, some less popular private schools located in populated areas of Imphal area had already completed annual examinations.
They conducted exams with students in casual dress, according to teachers.