Sumatibala raises issue of school drop-out at NE Regional Consultation
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 27 2019:
During the inaugural session of the NE Regional Consultation programme on Mar 25 at Guwahati sponsored by National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), Sumatibala Ningthoujam, Chairperson of MCPCR highlighted the critical issues of school drop-out in Manipur.
She said that as per the recent report given by NITI Aayog, the drop-out rate at upper primary level is comparatively higher in NorthEastern States.
NITI Aayog has recommended spending at least 6% of GDP on education as a whole.
India's spending 3% of GDP on education is lesser then the world's average 4.7% of GDP, she said.
In Manipur there is an ever-increasing preference for private schools over Govt schools.
This is perhaps due to the general perception that private schools deliver better quality education than Govt schools, she said and added that in spite of Govt's efforts to improve the quality of education, 'it utterly fails due to the inadequate public funding in education sector'.
As per provisions of RTE Act, 2009, students are promoted to their respective next higher classes.
In context of Manipur there are many factors contributing to drop-outs for school children.
Double admissions simultaneously both in Govt & private schools for taking the benefits given in Govt schools under the provisions of RTE Act, 2009, engaging children of below poverty line families in their household works, non-availability of upper primary schooling facilities in the localities and poor children conditioned/compelled to go for petty jobs instead of going to schools etc are some of the reasons for children quitting schools, she said.
School drop-out is a staggering reality in Manipur and it needs to be addressed for which stakeholders should have to be made accountable to drop-outs, she said.
Awareness programmes on importance of education should reach each & every community of the multi-ethnic society of Manipur and actionable SDIMS (Student Database Information Management System) software should be effectively implemented, she added.