Imphal, October 04: Owing to apprehension over the possibility of fudging the actual figure of the students in the age group of 6 to 14 enrolled in different educational institutions under the Education Department of the State with an eye on siphoning off extended benefits, the State Government has decided to conduct an extensive household survey to detect ambiguity on the stated figure.

Disclosing this to The Sangai Express, a reliable source said the Government has been suffering loss financially in the implementation of welfare schemes for the students as the actual number of students in the age group of 6 to 14 and studying in the schools has not been quoted in the right perspective. According to the reports submitted to the Department by the Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs), the number of students in the age group of 6 to 14 enrolled in different schools is around 60,000 with the number of school dropouts hovering in the range of 58,000 .

As there is strong apprehension over the possibility of fudging the actual figure in the reports submitted by the respective ZEOs, the Government would rope in the service of an NGO to conduct a household survey for verification and authenticating the actual number of students enrolled in these schools.

Along with that steps would also be taken up for proper mapping of the actual locations of the schools, the source disclosed. There is various pitfalls in taking up developmental and other welfare programmes based on inadequate or over-inflated datas, the source added.

It may be noted here that upto 2005, the total number of schools in the State was 3257.Out of these, 604 were aided schools.

The source further informed that in connection with the confusion over the number of students in the said age group, a joint meeting of the Education Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners to be chaired by the Chief Secretary would be held on October 10 to discuss the matter.

It is said that the Centre has stopped releasing fund for implementation of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) in the State for the current year as the ZEOs concerned have not submitted the utilisation certificates of the fund used earlier.

But the implementation of the scheme is still being carried out with expenses from State share and some remaining fund of the scheme.

According to another source, introduction of e-education of the NEC would be started in 20 selected schools under the Education Department very soon.

Under this system of education, students would be imparted with practical knowledge of science subjects and internet facilities would be provided to these educational institutions.

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