KSO, ANSAM to resist Govt decision on Alt Eng
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Kangpokpi, December 03 2015: Kuki Students' Organization, GHQ and All Naga Students' Association Manipur (ANSAM) on Thursday said that they will resist the Manipur Government decision to remove Additional English in the scheme of study at IX and X standards under Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BOSEM) .

A joint press statement signed by KSO-GHQ General Secretary Seiboi Haokip and ANSAM Asst General Secretary James Inka said that In connection with the Government decision the two student bodies along with the representatives of all the Private Schools Associations based in 5 Hill Districts had a joint meeting on Thursday and discussed on the problems and challenges faced by the students' community in the Hills Districts after the new order from the State Board removing Additional English.

The two student bodies said that the Government decision is nothing but a deliberate attempt to curb equal opportunity and freedom to pursue one's own choice of language to study while adding that it put the tribal population in a disadvantage position as unlike Manipuri language which received benevolent support from the State, none of the Tribal languages whether recognized or unrecognized have even basis support to advance their own literature.

It also recalled that ANSAM had approached the responsible authority and the State Government to take up immediate action.

The student bodies have already submitted a memorandum to the State Education Minister, M Okendro Singh in the last month urging to revocation of the aforementioned order after organizing a wide discussion with parents, effected students both in Hill and Valley based schools, experts in the field and concerned teachers.

However, despite the urgency of the matter and thousands of students career at stake the Government have choose to remain silent, the statement said.

The two student bodies also alleged that the decision of the Government ignores the social fabric of the State which is home to a large number of linguistically diverse social groups.

"It is a fact that only few tribal languages are recognized in the State Education Board, thus students belonging to the smaller tribes will face huge problem to pursue higher education", KSO and ANSAM said while warning that the two student bodies will stand firm against undemocratic decision of the State Government.

It also said that the State Education Board has placed coming December 16 as the last date for submission of the upcoming examination form for X Standard in the State.

However, since the State Government has not taken any steps in regards to the grieve concerns of the Tribal student in the State, the Students' Associations have communicated to all the Principals of the schools based in Hill Districts not to summit the examination form.

The two student bodies also warn that since the matter is a serious concern for the future generation of all the tribal population in the State going against the directive of the Students' bodies will not be tolerated and deal with severely.

The Students' bodies will not rest until justice is done to all the tribal population in the State and equal respect is given to all the tribal students in the State said KSO and ANSAM while adding that the students' bodies will meet shortly to take further course of action.

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