Give Top Priority to Higher Education in Manipur : FEGOCTA

29th August, 2014:

Federation of Government College Teachers’ Associations, Manipur (FEGOCTA) is concerned about the neglect and disturbing condition of the higher education specially collegiate education in Manipur. No regular Director at Directorate of University & Higher Education, failure to appoint Regular Principals in the government colleges for over 20 years, no steps to constitute State Higher Education Service, no efforts to fill up vacant posts of teachers, librarians and non-teaching staff for decades, failure to make a policy for permanent service of over 400 Part Time Teachers, lack of infrastructure like adequate class room, proper toilets/urinals, library buildings and modern facilities like books, journals, internet etc are some of the examples of the neglect.

Low budget allocation for higher education is the main culprit for present disturbing situation in Manipur. The government policies appear to favour few colleges also. Based on false allegation of higher pay, the government college teachers have been paid arrears of 13 months less from other employees of state government in the 6th pay revision and allowances of SCA and TA are denied for 45 months. The eligible teachers have not been promoted for many years, while some are left out in the promotion process for no reason. Even to get their own money GPF, it takes more than one year and uncertainty when to get pensions after retirement. In such situation the college teachers feel anxiety and demoralized. No wonder teaching profession is the least preferred by the parents and students in Manipur.

The combined consequences of the neglect of higher education have been the decline in the standards, high dropout rates, mass exodus of the students to outside Manipur for studies with crores of rupees spending every year etc which have great impact on the economy, culture and society in Manipur. Such situation is due to collective failure without any sign of feeling shame and no efforts to bring quality and world class education in Manipur.

For unity, growth and excellence in higher education in Manipur FEGOCTA has been relentlessly pursuing the government to appoint Regular Director at University and Higher Education, to constitute State Higher Education Service, to appoint regular Principals, proper functioning of State Higher Education Council, create new posts of Professors and open up of more PG Courses in the colleges.

FEGOCTA demands to provide adequate class rooms, urinals/toilets, other modern infra-structures and facilities and to recruit vacant posts of librarians, teaching and non-teaching staff; regular supply of water and electricity to the educational institutions. Considering the long service for over 15 years, government should adopt a policy of permanent absorption of the Part Time teachers at the earliest.

Development without quality education will only aggravate the present educational scenario in Manipur. New Departments and subjects should be opened up with regular update/revision in the curriculum and syllabus. FEGOCTA appeals to all the stakeholders to ensure that budget allocation to higher education increases and there is academic excellence in Manipur.

FEGOCTA has already requested to Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Hon’ble Union Human Resource Development Minister, Sonia Gandhi, President and Rahul Gandhi, Vice–President of Indian National Congress etc to direct the government of Manipur to implement national education policy under UGC Regulations, 2010 of making payment of arrears to the college teachers from 1-1-2006 to 1-10-2010 and to seek 80% reimbursement from 1-1-2006 to 31-3-2010 from the centre.

FEGOCTA condemns some office bearers of teachers associations who keep silent on the issue of regular Principals and academic excellence, but busy writing letters to government, Press, M.P., AIFUCTO etc to defame FEGOCTA. The activities of such office bearers to create confusion about the unity and common Federation of the government college teachers only to serve their own personal interests should not be trusted by the teaching community, government and general public.

(Dr. N. Somorendro Singh)
General Secretary, FEGOCTA