Education sector has bounced back, claims Okendro
DM Colleges set to be elevated to university level
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 22 2014: The State's education sector, which was in deplorable state for the past many years, has improved a lot in the last couple of years and DM Colleges is set to be elevated to the position of a new university, claimed Education Minister M Okendro.

During today's Assembly session, Chief Minister O Ibobi who is also in charge of Finance Department tabled a number of demands pertaining to Information and Pu- blicity, Education, Agriculture, Election, Fishery and the State Academy of Training.

Clarifying on the policy cut motions raised by opposition Members in the course of discussing the demands, Okendro claimed that many of the flaws and loopholes which dogged the State's education system have been steadily rectified and addressed.

The State Cabinet has already given its consent for creation of necessary posts for appointment of regular Principals and Vice Principals of Higher Secondary Schools.

Substantial number of qualified teachers have been recruited under SSA and RMSA.

A view of the DM College campus

With some of the Government schools successfully producing students who secured positions in the merit lists of top 25, parents have once again started reposing their faith in Government schools.

In view of the administrative difficulties encountered at the level of ZEO, DI and AI, a plan has been put in place to appoint competent officers.

Around 7000 teachers would be trained in phase manner till 2015 .

Due consent has been obtained to set up one Poly- technic institution each in six districts under Higher Education Department.

The Chief Minister has already laid foundation stone for Bishnu-pur district.

On the average, 7500 students get Graduate degrees in the State every year but Manipur University has intake capacity of just 500 .

Given this fact, the Government has decided to set Dhanamanjuri University.

Unlike in the past where private universities were reluctant to open their campuses or new universities in the State because of law and order situation, many private universities have expressed keen desire to set up higher education institutions in Manipur.

It is expected that Manipur would find a place in the education tourism circuit of the country after some years, Okendro stated.

Budget allocation for education sector is not enough even for paying salaries.

Nonetheless, the Government is hoping for additional fund from the 14th Finance Commission.

Guided by a general impression that it is relatively easier to clear board exams conducted by CBSE, a large number of students are studying in schools affiliated to CBSE thereby considerably reducing the number students in schools affiliated to BSEM or COHSEM.

There were instances where question papers of CBSE exams got leaked.

Given these precedents, there is a growing need to monitor schools affiliated to CBSE, Okendro noted.

The case pending in Court regarding appointment of regular Principals of Government Colleges is on the verge of a final settlement.

As such, there is a strong possibility of appointment of regular Principals in the next couple of months.

Agriculture and Fishery Minister Abdul Nasir pledged that no efforts would be spared to practice double cropping and triple cropping in the State.

The State Government has formulated of policy under which farmers would be given crop seeds with 50 per cent Government subsidy.

Several NEC funded programmes intended to enhance the State's pisciculture and fish productivity are also in the pipeline.

Efforts are on to submit utilization certificates in time for the schemes implemented under RKVY, Nasir said.

Dr I Ibohalbi, Th Shyamkumar, Th Bishwajit and Kh Joykisan took part in the demand discussion and all the demands put up by the Chief Minister were passed by the House.