History created : Students appear for HSLC exams in Meetei Mayek
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 11 2015: Manipur created history after 200 years as students appeared for Meetei Mayek paper on the last day of 2015 HSLC examination held all over the State.

A total of 13,026 students appeared for the Meetei Mayek paper out of 34,831 students who appeared for the HSLC exam this year.

Meanwhile 1,695 students who failed in Manipuri in last year's exam appeared for Manipuri (Bengali script) today.

Speaking at a press briefing at the office complex of Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BOSEM) Secretary of BOSEM Ch Sarat said that this very day is a very remarkable day in the history of Manipur as the State is witnessing the first ever board exam of Meetei Mayek.

He further said "by next year the Meetei Mayek subject will be made compulsory for every students belonging to the Meetei community and so the number of students appearing for the subject would be about 25,000" .

Meetei Mayek

Sarat added that major tribes which are recognized by the Government appeared for the exams in their dialects.

Furthermore other tribes which are not recognized have been given two years to develop their text books and get recognition certificate to appear for the said subject in lieu of Meetei Mayek or Additional English.

He showed his gratitude towards the hard work laid down by the members of MEELAL and said that such a day would not have come to light without their sincere work and help provided to BOSEM.

Commenting on the works done by BOSEM to include Meetei Mayek subject in board exams, president of MEELAL Sadokpam Tomba Mangang said "this very day should be declared a 'red-letter day' as it would remain embedded in the history as the greatest achievement of all the people belonging to Manipur" .

He extended his heartfelt gratitude towards the Chief Minister of Manipur, the Education Minister and also the officials of BOSEM for taking such an initiative to include Meetei Mayek as a subject in school syllabus.

Tomba urged the Government to take up steps to fill in the required Meetei Mayek teachers as there is lack of teachers in almost all the schools of the State.

He added that the Government should work more on developing "our language and script by providing teachers to all the schools and there are many TET qualified candidates who can teach Meetei Mayek" .

Meanwhile a team of MEELAL inspected various examination centers in and around Imphal city.

In Imphal West, TG Hr Sec School had 151 students appearing for MM while Johstone Hr Sec School had 102 candidates.

Ramlal Paul Hr Sec School had 59, Regular English High School 82 candidates and Kumari High School, Hiyangthang had 267 candidates, Wangoi Hr Sec School had 447 students, Standard Robarth Hr Sec School had 223 candidates, Imphal Public School 98 and Temple of Learning, Canchipur had 135 students appearing for Meetei Mayek.

In Imphal East district, 96 students of Ching Tam High School, Yaingangpokpi, 160 candidates of Lamlai High School, Pundongbam, 252 students of Sawombung HS, 230 students of Ananda Hr Sec School and 160 students of Tiny Tots' Unique School appeared for Meetei Mayek paper.