Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 31:
Taking serious note of the functioning of the National Institute of Open School centres being in different institutes of the State, Chief Secretary Jarnail Singh has written to the Centre and other relevant authorities to check the conduct of these centres and take up action as it deems fit.
Speaking to The Sangai Express, a well placed source said that the Chief Secretary has written to the relevant Ministries of the Centre as well as the head of the NIOS to depute a co-ordinator and check the functioning of the NIOS centres being opened in the State.
In his written missives, the Chief Secretary made it clear that the NIOS centres being opened in Manipur have flouted all the rules of admission and to many of the students the NIOS has come to be identified as a centre to pass easily without any efforts.
In other words, the NIOS centres have become money minting institutions without adhering to the laid down rules and regulations, opined the Chief Secretary in his messages to the Centre.
The stated aims and objectives of NIOS is to give educational opportunities to students who cannot go in formal education due to a number of factors.
However in Manipur, the NIOS has come to be viewed as an institute to earn a degree easily without much sweat thereby defeating the very purpose for which the institute has been set up.
What is more, a number of students enrolled as regular students opt to appear for the NIOS examination as it is seen as the easier route to pass, said the source adding that this practice has prompted the State Government to take up certain action with the Centre.
Not so long back, some student organizations had strongly opposed the setting up of NIOS centres in the State contending, that it has become a bane to ushering in quality education.
To check the functioning of the NIOS centres in Manipur, the Chief Minister had convened a meeting of the Education Minister, Chief Secretary and officers of the Education Department to discuss the matter.
After minutely deliberating on the matter, it was decided that a co-ordinate of the NIOS should be permanently posted in Manipur to monitor the functioning of the institute, informed the source.