Regulatory Bill under process: Okendro Bill mulled for private schools
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 02 2015 : To regulate the mushrooming of private schools and the free run they are enjoying, a Bill is being drafted and the same Bill would be tabled in the next Assembly session, stated Education Minister M Okendro.

Responding to a call attention motion raised by L Ibomcha about AMSU's demand for formulating a State policy to regulate private schools, Okendro maintained that the Government does not believe that anyone who runs a private a school is the ultimate authority.

In view of the mushrooming private schools, many of which lack minimum infrastructure, there is a need to modify th education policy.

Some schools set up and affiliated without approval of the State Government and respective boards have ruined careers of hundreds of students.

No one can become a teacher whether in Government schools or private schools unless they clear TET.

The Government is also working to put a cap on the fee structure of private schools.

Necessary measures would also be initiated to check transportation of students in over-crowded school vans or buses, Okendro stated.

Blaming the Government for some faux pas committed by private schools is not logical enough, agreed Ibomcha but warned that failure to check the mushrooming of private schools may result in unwanted developments.

Responding to a public interest motion raised by Th Shyamkumar, Okendro maintained that there was no misplaced words or sentences incompatible with the syllabus in the Class XI and XII Science subjects published under COHSEM.

Nevertheless, since it was the first print, there might be a few typo errors, he added.

Class XI and Class XII Science subjects are published based on NCERT syllabus and the National curriculum.

COHSEM constituted a team of experts and published the text books for the first time in 2013 after due consultation with M/S Macmillan Company.

On receiving reports about mistakes in the text books, COHSEM officials were called and the text books were examined.

In case there was any mistake, it would be corrected in the next print.

The matter may also be referred to the expert committee.

Making an issue out of nothing is rather disappointing, he said.

However, Shyamkumar maintained that the Science text books were full of errors and it was a shame for teachers who wrote the text books.

Earlier during question hour, Works Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar confided that construction of Sanjenthong bridge could not be completed within the stipulated period (that is by June 2015) due to law and order situation and bandh and blockade.

Completion target of Sanjenthong bridge which would have four lanes and separate footpath has been provisionally extended till September this year.

Improvement work on the expanded Keishampat to Airport road would also be completed by September 2015.The estimated cost of the road expansion is Rs 62 crore, Dr Ratankumar informed the House.

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