'Imported' text books returned
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 30 2011: Student bodies such as All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU), Manipuri Students' Federation (MSF), Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) and Kangleipak Students' Association (KSA) today set May 1 as the deadline for book printing firms/publication houses to ensure availability of common syllabus text books prescribed by the Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BSEM) in the local markets.

speaking to newspersons at Sunrise Public School, Uripok this afternoon in the presence of Private Schools Welfare Association (PSWA) members, representatives of these student bodies asserted that failure to meet the deadline would not be tolerated and the firm/publication house concerned entrusted to produce the text books will have to face the consequences.

They also informed that over 10,000 text books not prescribed by the Board were found to have been used at a number of private educational institutions.

Text books being stockpiled for return to the respective firms

naming Macmillan, Orient Book Swan and Frank Brothers as the companies/firms from where the text books were procured/ordered by the private schools, the student body representatives said the text books after mutual understanding with the PSWA would be returned to the respective firms.

Conceding that relying on the text books not prescribed by the Board was compelled by the delay in ensuring availability of the Board prescribed text books, they also expressed surprise upon learning that the imported text books were being taught in the private schools as 'additional subjects' .

Pointing out that with the private school authorities teaching these text books as additional subjects workload of the students has been tripled thereby amounting to harassment of the young minds, they maintained while suggesting that in case the private schools are determined to prescribe additional subjects the matter would be put forth to the Board authorities for official acceptance.

Further reminding that April 30 deadline was actually set for the text book printers to bring out the learning material, they cautioned that failure to comply with the extended deadline of May 1 would not be tolerated under any circumstances.

In addition to undertaking inspection of private schools to determine whether non-prescribed text books are still being taught, the student bodies' representatives reiterated that the school authorities concerned should own responsibility for any undesired consequences arising out of the issue.