Prize distribution
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, July 16 2019: Department of Education (Schools) and Board of Secondary Education, Manipur (BOSEM) jointly organised the annual prize distribution ceremony for the years 2018 and 2019 with Chief Minister N Biren Singh as the chief guest at City Convention Centre, Palace Compound, Imphal East today.

Education Minister Th Radheshyam, Joint Secretaries (Education-S) L Nandakumar and Ng Roben and BOSEM Secretary Chithung Mary Thomas also attended the function as dignitaries.

In all, 209 awards were distributed today, out of which 125 awards were given by BOSEM while 84 others were incentive awards instituted by the Department of Education (S).

Speaking at the occasion, N Biren observed that education is the backbone of the society and giving good education to children is the only means to hone their talents.

He added that there has been huge improvement in school education sector in the past 2 years.

The Chief Minister informed that the overall pass percentage for HSLC examination touched an all-time high of 74.69%, which is the highest since establishment of BOSEM in 1972.Credit for this feat goes to hard-working teachers, he added.

N Biren said that as private school education has become extremely costly nowadays, huge number of parents, who were desirous to send their wards to private schools, came on Meeyamgi Numit to seek financial assistance from him.

Stating that about Rs 45,000 to Rs 60,000 is spent per student every year in getting education in private schools, the Chief Minister observed that all these put a huge financial burden on poor families.

To provide a solution to this scenario, the State Government launched 'School Fagathansi' mission with an objective to give the desired quality education to students, he added.

Informing that one school each had been selected in all the 60 Assembly Constituencies of the State to develop them as model schools, Biren said that all these schools would have similar facilities like in private schools including smart classes, computer lab, open gym, separate toilets for boys and girls and other modern infrastructure etc.

Rs 24 crore had been earmarked in the State budget while another Rs 19 crore had been sanctioned by the Central Government for the mission, he added.

Many committed and motivated Government teachers had applied for posting in these schools, he said and added that postings would be announced after the completion of necessary procedures like interview as soon as possible.

He also said that all these schools would have classes from Pre-Primary to Class X or XII.

The Chief Minister said that the Government has no intention to undermine the efforts and dedication of private schools or challenge them in their endeavour but simply trying to ensure the desired modern quality education is accessible to students belonging to needy families.

In his speech, Education Minister Th Radheshyam sought cooperation and support from public regarding Government's recent move of amalgamation of Government schools.

He said that there are many Government schools, which have many teachers but very less number of students while some other schools have good number of students but inadequate number of teachers.

As such, the Government believes that amalgamation of schools would serve as an effective means of resolving the problem of lack of infrastructure and manpower disparity among Government schools, he added.

Stating that mushrooming of private schools and unholy competition among them being witnessed in the State is not a good sign, the Minister said that the Manipur Private School (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2017 would be implemented soon to regulate establishment and functioning of private schools.

He also sought suggestion and co-operation from public regarding improvement of education sector in the State.

It may be mentioned that under Education Department's incentive award scheme, the State Government had announced to award Rs 3 lakh to Government school students who secure 1st to 3rd position in HSLC examination, Rs.1 lakh to 4th to 25th position holders.

Rs.50,000 and Rs.25,000 were also announced for the students, who secure 1st and 2nd positions at district levels respectively.

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