Education and the fate of Manipur

Ashem Regina *

Very recently on 4th June 2024, the result of UGC NEET exam have been declared but the notorious consequences of how the exam was conducted opened the loop of the controversy of the NEET UG 2024. Since the declaration of NEET UG 2024 results, numerous allegations of irregularities in the evaluation process have been raised by candidates and other stakeholders.

The announcement of a record breaking 67 students achieving All India Rank 1 adds more concerns regarding supposed non-transpa- rent grading practices for specific answer-sheets.

The students even reached various High Courts including that of Delhi and filed pleas in the Supreme Court, asking for a re-exam of the Nation wide medical test. The Supreme Court took no time in delaying the matter and has ordered a re-exam for 1563 affected candidates which will be held on June 23, Sunday.

Nonetheless, the Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also told that he had received information about the irregularities at two locations during the NEET- UG 2024 examination.

In Manipur, we have witnessed many private schools integrated with NEET courses and many coaching centre have mushroomed in and out coated with many distinctive features of NEET courses. Many aspiring students both fresher and drop out ones have been preparing the exam for one year. But when such kind of news unfolded it certainly affects huge number of students who are preparing the exam with sincerity and dedication.

Even as the dark cloud prevailed over the NTA after the release of the result of NEET-UG 2024 another dark cloud engulfed the NTA when the Centre canceled UGC-NET exam which was held on 18th June, 2024 with ‘integrity of exam being compromised’ report running wild. Reports exclusively announced that a fresh examination will be conducted and simultaneously, the matter was handed over to the CBI for thorough investigation.

In Manipur many students who are studying, who had already completed their MA and according to the NEP 2020 those students with the four year undergraduate degrees along with the fulfilment of the guidelines are allowed to appear for this exam.

The passing of the said exam would allow admission to PhD and eligibility for the post of Assistant Professor in different Universities. Thousands of students prepare for this exam to pursue research in different departments, but if the integrity of the exam is compromised in such a manner then what kind of future awaits our society ?

When the ethnic conflict broke out on 3rd May last year the internet was shut down entirely and those who were sincerely, dedicatedly, and honestly preparing for the exam with the help of various online classes, online notes and online test series were scrapped. Candidate faced pressure regarding where to download their admit card and where to change the exam centre if needed as the internet were banned in general.

Above all the turmoil in the State brought much harm to the mentality of the candidates and affected the preparation of the exam. Since then this year the news of conducting the exam through OMR sheet instead of Computer based already doubted the minds of the candidate as the exam conducted through OMR sheet are more likely to get leaked or have many other complexities such as time consumption, error in filling, prone to cheating etc.

Meanwhile we need to understand that immense importance to the higher education system of the State should be given like we do at the 10th and 12th stage.

The famous philosopher Socrates said, ‘Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel’.

In the higher education we are more focused on analytical thinking, critical thinking, reasoning, logical insights and research oriented views. If our higher education system lacks such kinds of prospect giving institutions, faculties, infra- structures, resources etc then the bed rock of our society will sooner or later crumble to pieces.

While the Nation faced such irregularities, on the other page our respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji asserted that the Central Government is working towards making the country’s higher education system more advanced and research oriented while inaugurating the new Nalanda University. Ironic, right ?

Manipur was a once a sovereign State, not only in the field of sports, arts and culture but in the field of academic as well. To mention among many other achievements, James Leichombam and his wife Praneswori, Noel Chawang and Dr Raghu Ningthoujam James were part of the ISRO team in carrying out the successful landing of Chandrayaan 3 at the moon’s South Pole. Such a legacy might lose its track if we do not tighten the grip of our higher education system.

At the entrance gate of a University in South Africa the following message was posted for contemplation.

‘Destroying any Nation does not require the use of atomic bombs or use of long range missiles. It only requires lowering the quality of education and allowing cheating in the examination by the students.’

Patients die at the hands of such doctors.
Buildings collapse at the hands of such engineers.
Money is lost at the hands of such economists and accountants.
Humanity dies at the hands of such religious scholars.
Justice is lost at the hands of such Judges.
The collapse of education is the collapse of the Nation.

I hope everyone questions the system of higher education in our Nation and moulds the fate of MANIPUR accordingly for reasons best known to ourselves.