Education : An agent of social control in individual's emancipation
With special reference to Manipur
- Part 1 -

Dr Priyadarshni M Gangte *

Board of Secondary Education, Manipur building at Secretariat, Imphal

"Education is a liberating force, and in our age, it is also a democratizing force, cutting across the barriers of castes and class, smoothing inequalities imposed by birth and other circumstances" �Indira Gandhi

1. Introduction: The overall scenario of present education system in Manipur in terms of infrastructure building, faculty development, student amenities and teaching method including governance pattern from school to higher education both under Government managed schools and Privately administered schools had witnessed a tremendous lacked of initiatives on the part of the State Government since the last many years and till date.

A negligence of education sector caused a large scale migration of student to outside State in high cost and preference to other courses. However, Private institutions to some extent had ensured its own sustainable management and development in terms of performance for better academic activities than Government institution. In addition, the aim of education also shall include about discipline, morality, manner and etiquette apart from general education in making a well decorated feature.

2. Growth and Development: There was a sharp difference towards growth and development between government and private institution. Its causation of difference were evident from the statistic that there was a senses of prevailing competition among the private schools in pursuit of better infrastructure and academic performances, whereas Government schools has shown no mood of competitive among them.

This sense of competition has instigated many private stake holders to come forward for setting up of more private institution. Thereby displaying the space of growth and development of education in the private sector.

3. Budget for Education: Education in Manipur remains the most neglected sector among the sector of the government. This evidence has been seen from the purview of sectoral allocation of funds to all departments under the prepared Budget for every financial year. Education sector needs a multiple allocation of sufficient fund for various purposes. Such as development works, faculty development, students amenities, career and counseling improvement including financial assistance to private institution etc.

For example, this year (2012-13) Budget of the state allocated by Union Planning Commission is about Rs. 3500 cores. However, it seems that maximum fund is likely to be spent for payment of liabilities to major project/works implemented in the state rather than allocating it to education. Although, advocacy to which Education holds the key to all round development is appreciated.

There is no separate education policy in Manipur. The state is adopting the NPE 1986, with modification made in 1992 with appropriate State Plans of Action. Education in the State is guided by the National Policy on Education is framed by NCERT, NCTE and UGC.

4. Education Funding: The pattern of funding and flow of funds to Educational Institution in the state of Manipur are not commendable and laudable since the educational institution have confronted with a huge deficit of infrastructure development and faculty teaching and other facilities required for fulfillment of a normal of the institutions. Therefore, a permanent funding system needs to be created to meet all sorts of requirement on exigency basis.

5. Matching of society and education: There is a need for masses to participate in the development of education. The school authority and teachers alone find it difficult with them to bring education to grass ]root level without involvement of the people. A mechanism is needed to evolve where masses can take part in the education system, so that children carefully concentrate their mind in the learning and teaching method for a fear of repercussion to come from their parents in the event of neglecting their study at school and home.

Besides, it will also pave the way for strengthening the relationship of the school authority, teachers and parents in their pursuit to cater better education to the children. Curricular activities like organizing sports event are frequently held in school campus with the objective of enhancing the skill of talented students in the sport arena in presence of their parents.

6. DONER Ministry: This Ministry of DONER was created exclusively to take of developmental works in the North East Region. A number of major infrastructure developments at various educational institutions have been implemented at par with other departments in the region.

However, it is regretted that private educational institution have been excluded from funding under this ministry since its inception till date without considering the potentiality of growth and development that the private institution has had excel the Government institutions. Now it is highly desirable to include private educational institutions for funding under this Ministry as well as to give a lion share of funds to government administered educational institution more than other sectors with the objective of eradicating in the region.

7. Look East Policy: It is a great opportunity for the people of the region to get linking and access to across the globe with the construction of Trans-Asian HighwayNo1 through North Eastern Region and opening of International market at Moreh, however a risky is also there for regional people may likely to face more burden on aspect of economic exploitation and deprivation of the universal facilities in the hands of developed nations,(local vs. global) if proper education to aware particularly on trade and business and generally socio- cultural and political which are not fully equipped with the local people before this policy is actually translated into action.

8. Vocational and other streams: Vocational educational or training must be set up and it should be encouraged for the students to come together to develop their skill and knowledge with self confidently before preparing to face a competition for a particular job that they wish to get .

In this regard It is pertinent to know in details that at secondary and higher level, diversified courses of study should be provided to meet the interest and professional needs of students such as, Fine-Arts, Music, Dance, Dramas, varieties of games and sports modern technology, computer application, mass communication, carpentry, weaving , sewing, embroidery, knitting and so on because after the school or college education they have to face the technical problems- the actual hard realities of livelihood; every students should be trained for future so that they may be able to support themselves economically, so educational pattern should be self supporting model, and for that matter, physical education also be not sidelined.

In this regard, the former President of India Dr. A.P. J. Abdul Kalam has outlined a three prolonged strategy to device employment oriented education system addressing the nation on the eve of 58th Independence Day on 15th August, 2004. He said firstly the education system should highlight the importance of enterpreneurship and prepare the students right from the college education to get oriented towards setting up the enterprises. This would include diversity of skills and perseverance in works. He emphasized that the curriculum for arts, science, and commerce should included topics and practical where such entrepreneurship is possible.

To be continued.....