The education condition in Chandel district

L Wolring *

A view of a Chandel Landscape

I would like to appeal to my fellow Christians and other friends through this paper on the education condition in Chandel district and it is an attempt to encourage the various schools and colleges, churches and civil societies to play a position role in eradicating these social evil practices within our present Christian and other communities.

Education Conditions:

a) The Schools/Colleges:

Let us say that the schools in Chandel district are doing anything for the better but the reality is that schools and colleges are to be run and operated on sound footing by the concerned school or college authorities. They need good buildings, qualified teachers and able managers. In order to make that possible, they need a good financial support to meet the salaries of the teachers as school tuition fee is the main source of income. They need a good number of students to fulfil the requisite strength of students in the school or college as it is obligatory following the rules imposed by the Board, the Council and the University.

While appreciating their noble efforts, sometimes the students are made the victims. Dr Nelson Mandela's beautiful statement comes to one's mind at this juncture. Just as "When two big elephants fight, it is the grass beneath them that suffers', most of the schools, colleges open their doors to any student as they need them. Students failing to pass examinations in a school or a college can go to another school or college without clearing the tuition fee of the previous schools or colleges. Ultimately, quality of education is out of the question in Chandel district.

b) The Teachers:

In the absence of properly run Government schools and colleges in Chandel district, the private schools and higher secondary schools are coming up in the district over the past few years. Private school teachers are the most lowly paid, most uncared for and most unrecognized but most hard working brothers and sisters of our district. In short, they are to be appreciated. The quality of a teacher with a higher degree is generally accepted. Are the teachers of Chandel district qualified and possessed the required degrees of teaching? There are lots of teachers who jumped into this profession just after completing matriculation or 12th standard. The schools accept them readily for less is spent on them. As per norms of National Education Policy, all the teachers should possess the degree of B.Ed or M.Ed.

In Chandel district, there are many Govt teachers under the Education Department and ADC, who are not attending the schools at all as such the economically poor parents are sending their children to private schools where they are paying school tuition fees. Of course in some Government schools or colleges, the teachers are available but the students who want to be like a free-bird didn't attend the school or colleges. As they didn't attend the classes, they are bound to adopt unfair means and impersonation during examinations.

c) Mass copying and impersonation in examinations:

Education is the process of bringing about changes in the behavior of the pupils. It is possible only through the involvement of a conducive educational atmosphere, social awareness, teachers and parents. The education means a total development of mankind physically, mentally, spiritually and socially. It is quite painful for me to say that the present education system in Chandel district is far from being quality education because the parents send their children to schools or colleges to get degree and not quality education.

The parents willingly and knowingly encouraged their children to change the school by producing fake certificates with dual purposes of double promotion in class and escape from clearing the dues of previous schools/colleges. Purchase and issue of fake certificates is not hard at all. Some schools accepted such fake certificates to attract students.

At the time of writing HSLC examination, the parents bribed the head/authority of schools and examination centers for change of photos for impersonation, change of answer scripts and appointment of invigilators from outside, though there was no such corruption in the examination before 1977. While visiting the examination halls at the Chandel Centre for HSLCE-2012, I felt very much discourage to see undesirable activities such as use of unfair means and impersonation, and my conscience compelled me to think over for bringing about an end to such malpractices so ushering in quality education in the area.

I personally volunteered to fight against the evil by seizing books and notes from the candidates. I found the candidates of a particular school in the examination halls with their own teachers as invigilators. When the result of such schools comes out with good pass percentage, the parents of this area judged the said school as good. Heaven only knows which schools or colleges have not been affected by this practice of using unfair means in the examination. There are no students or schools or colleges which have not been affected by this menace.

While visiting the class XI examination hall in a Government Higher Secondary School, it was like a public market. Same thing happened for class XII and BA examination. It is my effort and appeal to the students and their parents to be truthful in all our activities as truth shall set us free. - John 8:32. And the God of Heaven will prosper us. - Nehemiah 2:20.

The Bible also clearly said that "Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin." - James 4:17. I also appeal to Manipur University, Council of Higher Secondary Education and Board of Secondary Education, Manipur to impose more restrictions while conducting examinations so as to save the education system from going from bad to worst.

The Bible further says, "Righteousness exalt a nation but sin is reproach to any people."- Proverbs 14:34. Jesus Christ is the Lord of History and Central to Christian's faith. As Christians, we deny our faith and failed to acknowledge Jesus as Lord in our every personal, social, religious, economic and political lives because we have Biblical mandate to preach the everlasting gospel to the whole world and to work for the National righteousness. The Christian movement needs to involve for bringing the social justice not only for the sake of private moral renewal. The family is a divinely willed institution. It is God's wish for one man and one woman to live together in lifelong commitment.

Hence, legislation and public funds should not promote sinful lifestyles. With every human life being created in the image of God, the value and worth of each individual is independent of his/her social usefulness. So Christians should not remain silent when modern community forgets the value or allows corruption. Religious and political freedom is God given rights. The Church and the State should be separated because sinful and selfish people regularly abuse power, thus, depriving justice and balance in the society. Therefore, freedom of expression and political liberty are very much crucial.

God and His obedient people have a very special concern for the poor. "He who is kind to the people lend to the Lord, He will regard him for what he has done."-Proverb 19:17. "I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy."- Psalm 140:12. God wants just economic patterns in the community. God is the absolute owner of all things and desires the earth's resources be benefited by everyone. The Bible condemned both those who are lazy and those who become rich by oppressing others.

God requires Christians to be peacemakers. The Christian should learn earnestly for the time when "Nations shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more". -Isaiah 2:4 and we should agree with the words of Jesus, "Blessed are the peacemakers." - Matthew 5:9. For God requires stewardship of the earth's resources.

The earth is the Lord's and humanity is to exercise dominion over it. It is a must for each generation to protect the environment and preserve the quality for life for future generation but out community have failed and brought destruction of wild life and forest even though we are to be stewards of God's gifts. Personal integrity is vital. The Bible demands honesty and personal righteousness. Dishonesty in public affairs spoiled the democratic process. A politician's or Church leader's personal and family life should be a good model for the rest of the community and personal religious conviction helps prevent the abuse of political power for narrow personal purposes.

We must repent because the Bible says that "If my people which are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways then will hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their lands".- II Chronicles 7:14. Christians must support only those public and church leaders, who are willing to take positive Biblical stand on corruption, alcoholism, abortion, illicit sex traffic, gambling and quality education, etc. A person or community that aims at getting justice and honor in public affairs will be blessed by God who is Lord of History.