Stakeholders must work together: COHSEM Chairman
Schools resolve stand against monetary demands
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 19 2024: Saying that the education system will take a totally different path in the next couple of years, the Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur (COHSEM) Chairman has highlighted the need for all stakeholders to work together.

At the same time, the session adopted four resolutions, the first one being making a collective appeal with all like minded organisations if private schools come under excessive pressure from groups/individuals for monetary and material donations.

Speaking on the 21st foundation day of All Manipur Recognised Private Schools Welfare Association held at Manipur Press Club today, COHSEM Chairman Takhellambam Ojit said that the introduction of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 would bring dramatic changes in the State's education system.

Given the impending changes, he expressed keen desire for all stakeholders particularly All Manipur Recognised Private Schools Welfare Association, Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BSEM) and COHSEM to work together.

With the new curricula and syllabi emphasising more on the local education system and local dialects, it is essential for all stakeholders to work together, he said.

Vocational education or skill education would become one of the most prominent subjects once NEP is fully implemented.

COHSEM alone will not be able to steer the course of education in the State.

All schools including Government schools, Government aided schools and private schools, BSEM and COHSEM must work together to guide students in the right path, Ojit said.

Seminars/workshops may be organised jointly, he suggested.

COHSEM Chairman Takhellambam Ojit, All Manipur Recognised Private Schools Welfare Association president L Joy Khuman, the association's advisor N Tomba and BSEM Chairman Akham Joykumar were the chief guest, president and guests of honour of the foundation day function.

The foundation day celebration also had a second session during which discussions were held on the topic "Disturbance free education zone demand", "National Education Policy 2020" and "Manipur Private School (Rules and Regulations) Act 2017" .

All Manipur Recognised Private Schools Welfare Association president L Joy Khuman, the association's former president Doren Kha-Nganba and the association's advisor N Tomba were the main speakers of the discussion session.

Like other Government and private institutions, many educational establishments in Manipur have been struggling under the burden of so-called 'donations' or 'demands' imposed by various known and unknown organisations in recent months.

This has caused unbearable hardships for those managing the schools, L Joy Khuman said.

He also expressed frustration and urged all parties involved to refrain from using any form of intimidation or threats against schools.

After threadbare deliberation, the session adopted four resolutions, the first one being making a collective appeal with all like minded organisations if private schools come under excessive pressure from groups/individuals for monetary and material donations.

The second resolution says that new curriculum and syllabus which would be formulated by the State Government under NEP 2020 should be made available to students by October.

The department concerned should organise teacher training programmes at private schools at the earliest.

The All Manipur Recognised Private Schools' Welfare Association would provide technical support to teachers by organising training programmes on audio-visual class so that teachers are more adept in new teaching methods.

Urging the SCERT to publish textbooks for classes III to VIII which would be taught under NEP 2020 at the earliest was the third resolution of the session.

The fourth resolution says that the Manipur Private School (Rules and Regulations) Act 2017 should be kept at bay until and unless the points raised by the association and the agreement reached with the Government are fulfilled.

If the State Government tries to enforce the Act forcefully, the association will go to law Court.

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