BoSEM announces exam 'schedules' amid staff stir
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, December 11 2024:
Amid the pen-down strike by staffers of Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BoSEM) since December 9 demanding his removal, chairman Akham Joykumar has announced a tentative schedule for the High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) Examination 2025 .
According to the schedule, the examination will take place in the second or third week of February, with submission of forms starting from December 16.Addressing media persons at the Babupara office of BoSEM, on Wednesday, chairman Joykumar admitted that the ongoing crisis in the state has disrupted students' schooling, leaving them feeling insecure.
Despite this, he assured that BoSEM is committed to conducting the HSLC examination on time, prioritising the future of the student community who are the future pillars of the society.
He announced that the form submission for the HSLC examination 2025 will begin on December 16, with the exam tentatively scheduled between the second and third week of February 2025.The chairman appealed to teachers and parents to support and cooperate in ensuring the timely completion of the process.
Expressing concern over the non-availability of textbooks, Akham Joykumar confided that textbooks for this year have been acquired and stored, ready for distribution to all concerned on time.
He further stated that NCERT and SCERT activities are being carried out regularly, along with pointing out that the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) requires considerable time and effort, with expert feedback and opinions being actively sought.
The chairman also mentioned that textbooks for class I to III have been printed in bicolour, while also suggesting that, similar to NCERT's role in syllabus creation and textbook printing, it would be more effective if the SCERT were entrusted with these responsibilities, leaving BoSEM to focus solely on conducting exams.
Responding to media queries about the pen-down strike by BoSEM staff, Akham Joykumar clarified that his tenure as BoSEM chairman ended on November 10, as the chairman's position is normally held for three years, with a possible two-year extension.
However, this time, the decision was made not to grant any extensions, and an advertisement for the recruitment of a new chairman was issued on October 26 .
He further explained that he submitted his application for the position and was subsequently appointed as BoSEM chairman through a government order on December 6, officially assuming his office on December 9 .
Stating that he was unaware of the specific grievances the BoSEM staff had against him, chairman Akham Joykumar appealed to the staff to extend their cooperation and support towards ensuring the timely conduct of the HSLC examination, in the best interest of the students, and not to pose additional problems to the students during this time of the crisis.
It may be mentioned that the BoSEM staff had been protesting at the BoSEM gate since December 9 demanding review of the appointment of Akham Joykumar as chairman of BoSEM and replace him with another person.
Joykumar was appointed as the BoSEM secretary in 2017 and interim chairman in 2018.During his tenure as the interim chairman, the HLSC results tampering scandal broke out and he was suspended, while an inquiry was instituted against him.
In 2021, he was appointed as chairman in-charge and shortly after as chairman in the same year for a period of three years.
Akham Joykumar had attained the age of 60 years in February 2022.However, the Recruitment Rules of the Manipur Secondary Education Act, 1972 was amended to increase the retirement age by five more years, allegedly in violation of the order of the Higher and Technical Education Department.
He has also been charged of illegally appointing some BoSEM employees and misusing of funds.