Good intention, bad action
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: July 22, 2024 -

"Good intentions can lead to bad actions, when intentions don't match actions".

This was the first thought that came to the mind in reading the news report of a new committee constituted by the Directorate of University and Higher Education, Government of Manipur to oversee and monitor the attendance of students and staff, as well as the conduct of morning assembly daily, in both government and government-aided colleges across the state.

Quoting an order issued by the director of University and Higher Education (UHE) Dr Rangitabali Waikhom, the news report said that the committee would be led by Dr Rangitabali herself and additional director (UHE) P Shantikumar would assist her as convener while other members include senior AO (UHE) Huidrom Sofia Devi, OSD (UHE) S Nandakumar Singh, OSD (UHE) Th Premchand Singh, OSD (UHE) Dr H Jibonkumar Singh, OSD (UHE) Dr N Ajith Singh, and legal officer L Ibotombi Singh.

For its effective functioning, tasks of the committee have also been distributed among the designated officials. Accordingly, Huidrom Sofia and L Ibotombi would oversee colleges in Imphal East, Thoubal, Senapati and Ukhrul districts, Nandakumar and Dr H Jibonkumar would be responsible for colleges in Imphal West, Kakching, Tamenglong and Noney districts while Dr H Jibonkumar and Dr N Ajith will focus on colleges in Bishnupur, Churachandpur, Chandel, Tengnoupal, and Kangpokpi districts.

It is also said that these officials would visit their respective assigned colleges regularly to ensure proper attendance of students and staff and the conduct of daily assemblies, and submit weekly reports to the director.

The principals of the colleges would have to provide relevant reports to the officials concerned who would also conduct random or surprise visits to colleges and meet bi-monthly to assess the collected reports.

These bi-monthly meetings would take place either in the middle or at the end of each month, culminating in a comprehensive monthly report submitted to the government.

As stated at the very outset, even if the intention behind constituting the committee is good, all the elaborate arrangements being made for monitoring the attendance of students and staff, as well as the conduct of morning assembly sound too superfluous, especially in the light of the current higher educational system in the staterlagging far behind the desired standard.

With shortage of not just infrastructures, but also regularteachersand non-teaching staff remaining an insurmountable common problem that affects the academic functioning of all government colleges and other institutes of higher learning in the state, any sensible person would wonder how monitoring the attendance of students and staff, as well as the conduct of morning assembly daily is going to help in improving the education system.

Of course, regular attendance of students and staff is essential in any-teaching-learning process and making the morning assembly mandatory could help in ensuring regular attendance of both the students and the staff.

But the pertinent question is how can anyone expect regular attendance of students and staff as well as conduct of morning assembly daily in government and aided colleges when these educational institutions do not have the requisite infrastructures and teaching staff.

So, rather than paying attention to where it is required, diverting resources and energy in constituting a committee to monitor the attendance of students and staff, and oversee the conduct of morning assembly daily in government and government aided colleges is only going to be a complete waste.

Taking a leaf from the experience of IITs or state of Karnataka where introduction of mandatory morning assembly in all government colleges has not only led to promotion of "uniformity and inclusivity" but also provide motivation to both students and staff to start each day with positivity is one thing, but how that experience could be replicated in the ailing government and aided colleges of Manipur is an altogether another thing.

This is where a good intention could lead to bad action.