Over 30k students to sit for HSSLC exams from today
Significant drop in number from last year
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 20 2024: A total of 31,351 students will sit in the Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate (HSSLC) Examination 2024 in 111 exam centres across Manipur.

The HSSLC examination, conducted by the Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur (COHSEM) will start tomorrow amid the ongoing clash and tension between Meiteis and Kukis.

This year, the number of students and exam centres have decreased because of the prevailing situation in the State.

Last year, a total of 36,000 students appeared in the HSSLCE 2023 in 120 centres.

The 31,351 students this year are from 236 higher secondary schools affiliated to COHSEM.

Over 30k students to sit for HSSLC exams from today

Interestingly, the candidates include students of six schools of Churachandpur and Kangpokpi which were recently delisted by the CBSE for using fake No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for their affiliation to the Central board.

The six schools are Ebenezer Academy, Happy Heart School, Churachandpur and Manipur Baptist Church (MBC) Higher Secondary School, Kangpokpi, Elite Secondary School, EL Salom Academy and Good Samaritan Public School Kangpokpi district.

These six schools were among 25 schools which lost CBSE affiliation recently.

The examination was originally scheduled to be conducted in 114 centres, however, 3 centres in vulnerable areas have been cancelled, said COHSEM Chairman Takhellambam Ojit Singh.

The three schools which have been removed as centres are Sugnu Higher Secondary School in Kakching district, Emanuel English Academy at Yaingangpokpi, Imphal East and Chakpikarong Higher Secondary School, which is located near the boundary between Chandel and Kakching district.

Students of Sugnu Higher Secondary School have been assigned Kakching Khunou Higher Secondary School as their centre.

Students of Emanuel English Academy Yaingangpokpi will appear for the examination at Lamlai Higher Secondary School, Imphal East district.

Students of Chakpikarong Higher Secondary School have been given Maha Union Higher Secondary School, Chandel as their centre.

Of the 111 centres, 36 are in 10 districts in the hills and 75 are in 6 districts in the valley.

Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts have six centres each.

A total of 8,100 Arts students (4303 male and 3797 female) will appear in the examination.

The number of Science students is 22,631 which include 11,305 male candidates and 11,326 female candidates.

The number of Commerce students appearing in the examination is only 620, which include 339 male candidates and 281 female candidates.

30,576 students of the total candidates are regular.

For the examination, 70 flying squads have been formed.

40 flying squads will work daily, said COHSEM Chairman T Ojit.

The invigilators and members of flying squads in centres in conflict zones will compose of neutral members [persons belonging to communities other than Meitei and Kuki], he said.

The number of students appearing for the examination this year has declined due to the present situation in Manipur, said the Chairman, urging all officials and invigilators of all the examination centres to do their duty with sincerity and without any fear or pressure.

On the examination this year, TG Higher Secondary School Imphal Vice Principal Loushambam Bor Singh said apprehension is always there due to the prevailing situation.

He put faith that COHSEM will put in place adequate arrangement for smooth conduct of the examination.

A total of 459 students of TG Higher Secondary School are appearing in the HSSLCE 2023 this year.

The 459 include 93 Arts stream students, 95 Commerce stream students and 371 Science stream students, said the Vice Principal, wishing the students to perform their best in the examinations.

Vice Principal of Johnstone Higher Secondary School Imphal, Pukhrambam Nilakumari said the present conflict will have a bearing on the students and the examination this year.

10 students of the school collected their examination admit cards only yesterday as they were "guarding their villages as volunteers", Nilakumari said.

A total of 432 students of the schools will appear in the examination.

The 432 students include 294 of Science stream, 86 of Arts stream and 52 of Commerce stream.

Khullem Memtonbi Devi, Principal of Sir Churachand (CC) Higher Secondary School Imphal said a total of 374 students of the school will appear in the examination.

The 374 students include 234 of Science stream, 88 of Arts stream and 52 of Commerce stream.

The Principal wished her students the very best in the examination and prayed for healthy competition.