FESOK decries absence of MM in UCG test
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 25 2022:
Federal Students' Organisation Kangleipak (FESOK) has decried the absence of Manipuri language and Manipuri script in the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) for admission to universities for studying graduation to M Phil and PhD courses in the notification issued by University Grants Commission (UGC) on March 21.Addressing a press meet at its office premises at Uripok Bachaspati Maning Leikai here on Friday, FESOK secretary education and library N Rikesh Mangang termed the notification as an act of focusing only on Hindi and Sanskrit while ignoring language and culture of smaller communities.
He appealed to the Manipur University and authority concerned of the state government to make necessary communications and include Meeteilol in the entrance test.
He then said that Manipur University should take up necessary steps by March 30 to include Meetei Mayek (MM) in the CUET, for which application forms will be issued from April onwards, failing which FESOK will launch a series of intense agitation.
He further said that the question paper for NET conducted by UGC in February was not in Meetei Mayek and as a result, several students were deprived the chance of appearing in the examination.
The panels of question setters are all Manipuris arid yet they did not think it necessary to print questions in Meetei Mayek even though it has replaced Bengali scripts up to MA 3rd semester.
So far, most of the textbooks for master's courses are not in Meetei Mayek.
Transliteration process is yet to complete for more than half of the course materials.
The government has also failed to take up any special training programme for adults, he said.
The New Education Policy makes it clear that education up to class 5 should be in mother tongue.
Despite such policies, the Government of India often ignores languages of smaller communities in actual implementation.
Language and scripts are parts of the culture of a community and Meeteilol has been listed as an endangered language in the UNESCO report.
The situation was brought on by the failed policies of the Government of India, he said while stressing the need for a collective effort from all fronts to protect and promote Manipuri language and script.
He also said that FESOK will take proactive role in this regard.