Goondaism and education : The twain should not meet
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: February 24, 2015 -

Goodaism and educational institutions.

The twain should not meet, but the last few days have proved to the contrary. Educational institutions have been making it to the news for all the wrong reasons.

On February 21, an exam centre at Lilong made it to the news when a mob gathered and targeted the vehicles of officials of the Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur.

The reason, that is if one can call that a reason, is that the officials had expelled two students from the exam centre on the charge that they were indulging in unfair means in the ongoing Class XII board exams.

The attackers or the incensed mob obviously had a different story to tell, but it is disturbing to note that mobs can so easily target officials who are on duty to check use of unfair means in the ongoing Class XII exams.

This was not all as another institute, the Central Institute of Science at Keishamthong Hodam Leirak came under an arson bid.

There may be different takes on why attempts were made to target the school, but it says poorly of the mentality of some people towards educational institutes.

This was followed by yet another act at Akash Higher Secondary School Changangei, wherein some unidentified miscreants not only vandalised the school but set the administrative block of the school on fire on February 22.

Three schools or educational institutions attacked in the span of two days and it may be safe to surmise that the respect that places of learning should command has been reduced to a joke.

A slightly different case, but somewhat similar is the decision of the All Manipur Students’ Union to impose a ban on Human Resource Centre (HRC) following the manner in which the selection test for awarding scholarships to students from Class III to Class IX was conducted.

The HRC is not a school but it deals with matters closely related with the academic pursuit of students.

The incidents mentioned above raise a serious question on how frivolously some people have taken the understanding of education.

Time for all those who are at the helm of affairs to look after education as well as time for the people to realise that no one has the right to hijack education.

It is also a reminder to all that no one should be taken for a ride in the name of education.

Not the time for the Government to remain silent but to act and see how things took such an ugly turn.

For that to happen, the Government has to come to terms with the importance of education.

Investigate the incidents sincerely and fix responsibilities. Nail all the wrong doers.

No one should be allowed to come under the impression that they can target educational institutions and walk away free.

If any officials are found guilty or wanting then it is only right that corrective measures are taken up for one is talking about the future of young students.

Important to note that education should not be allowed to be tampered by anyone.

Time for the Government to act tough and send out the message that it will not brook any attempt to tarnish education.

Education should have no place for cheats, hooligans and incompetent officials or private entrepreneurs.