The father who grooms two successive toppers
Source: Hueiyen News Service / N Sanajaoba

Imphal, December 22 2012: Money is the not the only requirement for a student to come out with flying colours in any venture he or she may undertake, what is even more important is the joint effort of both the parents and the teachers, Dr Haobam Priyokumar, retired District Family Welfare Officer, Imphal West, has stated.

Dr Priyokumar is the proud father of H Sangamita and H Sofia who topped the Matric examination conducted by the Board of Secondary Education, Manipur (BSEM) in 2001 and 2002 respectively.

In a tete-a-tete with Hueiyen Lanpao, Dr Priyokumar stated that money alone cannot make a student to shine in examination; it requires constant encouragement and support of not only the parents and family members but also of the teachers.

"No matter how brilliant a student may be, he/she would not be able to make it to the top without the encouragement and support of the parents, the family members as well as the teachers", he said.

"Contrary to the general public perception, bringing up children is not that difficult.

It just requires some understanding, encouragement and co-operation from the parts of the parents, and at times a little bit of chiding is essential", Dr Priyokumar observed, and added "we should make sure that their demands regarding 'gaining knowledge' is fulfilled at all cost.

There is also the need to understand the child and if he or she is not good in studies.

The parents should let the child chose other options and make him/her excel in that field.

There is no point in dragging a child according to the hopes and unfulfilled aspirations of the parents, he said.

Dr Priyokumar went on to inform that instead of rebuking a child who fails to do well in studies, it would be more appropriate to understand him/her properly and encourage in all respects.

Motivation at all levels is also required.

There would be a time when the children feel the desire to excel and at that time nothing can stop them.

While reacting to the current trend of parents sending their children to private tuitions soon after they return from school, Dr Priyokumar maintained that such parental pressures could become the main reason for the children to get spoiled instead of becoming bright in their studies.

"Both my daughters, Sangamita and Sofia did their schooling from Nirmalabas High School and always stood first in their respective classes.

There were not much of dos and don'ts for them except telling them not to let the second runners in their class excel them", the proud father said, adding that as far as private tuition was concerned they sought the help of private tutors from class X onwards on specific subjects only.

Sangamita has become an MPS officer while Sofia a doctor today.

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