Student bodies decry teaching of textbooks not prescribed by BOSEM
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 21 2023:
As many as six student organisations have decried the act of teaching textbooks not prescribed by the Board of Secondary Education Minister (BOSEM) at some private schools even though these schools are affiliated to BOSEM.
Speaking to media persons at the Kwakeithel office of MSF this afternoon, Chungkham Bidyananda, the student organisations' spokesman, said that the private schools have been teaching textbooks published by a private firm based outside the State, not prescribed by BOSEM, and these textbooks contain many errors.
He said that private schools set up under the Catholic Educational Society Manipur have been teaching textbooks published by Macmillan Education, instead of textbooks prescribed by BOSEM.
Macmillan Education's Class V general knowledge textbook called Mind Express Now contains many lessons which are not at all related to the history of Manipur, Bidyananda said.
The book says, "Manipur means the land of gems.
According to legend, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati used to dance around the hills of Manipur in the light that shone from the mani (jewel) that the serpent Shesnag had on his forehead.
Hence the name", he quoted.
He said that this particular lesson not only contradicts the history of Manipur but also challenges the entire Manipuri society.
Questioning the motive of the Catholic Educational Society in teaching this grossly erroneous textbook to students, the spokesman asked whether the Catholic Educational Society is superior to the BOSEM.
Saying that the six student organisations would not remain silent on such gross misinterpretation of the State's history, Bidyananda urged the Government and the authority concerned to take up befitting action at the earliest.
He added that the student organisations would arrange a meeting with the Catholic Educational Society on the issue.