Admission to all: A case of Good intention, bad implementation ?
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: June 06 2012 -

C.C. Higher Secondary School, Imphal in May 2012 :: Pix - Phurailatpam Banti

The decision of Education Minister Moirangthem Okendro to admit all the students applying for admission in the three Government higher secondary schools, namely, TG Higher Secondary School, Johnstone Higher Secondary School and CC Higher Secondary School for the academic session 2012-13, and the subsequent dilemma in which the principals of the said three government higher secondary schools have been caught on account of heavy onrush of students seeking admission has raised some serious posers.

It's true that every year a large number of students from all over the state come to the three premier higher secondary schools at Imphal to seek admission.

But all of them are not lucky enough to get admitted as the intake capacity in these schools could not accommodate all of them. So, on the face of it, the decision of the Education Minister to admit all students seeking admission in these three schools appears not just good but laudable as this was intended to solve the problem of students and their parents.

Moreover, the idea of admitting every student and ensuring them quality education in government schools in is harmony with the provisions laid down in Rights of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, the enacted of which has been hailed as a 'historic legislation' towards universalisation of education but whose implementation on the ground level, especially in states like Manipur, has always been wanting.

One nagging thought which remains in the minds of the people behind the good intention of the Education Minister to admit all students seeking admission in the three government higher secondary schools is how it is going to be possible given the track record of shortage of infrastructures, teachers and other necessary educational materials as well as equipments in most government schools in Manipur.

Of course, the Education Minister has assured that necessary infrastructure and equipment including class rooms, computers, library, proper campus, etc. and also sufficient teaching staff required for accommodation of all the desirous students would be provided under a special arrangement, but how long it would take to translate the assurance into action is not known.

When the new academic session, 2012-2013 is about to start, any delay over ensuring the required infrastructures and teaching staffs would only jeopardize the career of thousands of students.

It is also questionable why the Education Minister has not taken up steps to make the other government schools to develop on par with the three higher secondary schools so as to avoid the no mad rush for admission in these schools which are beyond the control and capacity of the poor principals?

Yes, the Education Minister has been bold enough to take up the challenge.

Apart from asserting that 'it is of no use being a Minister if he is not able to provide admission to all students', the Education Minister has even went on to announce stipends for all students studying in the three Government Higher Secondary Schools who score above 80 percent marks in aggregate.

We could only hope that the missionary zeal of the Education Minister to bring about a facelift in the existing education system does not end up as a classic case of good intention but bad implementation.