Imphal, October 11:: While claiming that rationalisation of teacher's transfer would be the main priority during his stint to ensure equal opportunity for the student community, Education Minister Francis Ngajokpa significantly stated that he has information of unauthorized persons assigned to serve as substitute teachers in various hill district schools.

Talking to The Sangai Express today the Minister acknowledging the unchecked practice of employing substitute teachers also stated that to address the common problem of teaching staff shortage in the State, the Centre would be urged to relax the ban on fresh appointment for the Education Department.

The substitute teachers are paid about Rs 2000 by the regular teachers, he cited.

To prevail upon the Central Government to review the blanket ban on fresh appointment, a comprehensive report is being prepared to bridge the teacher shortage gap that currently hovers around the 6000 mark from primary till higher level secondary level, Francis said.

He also desired that Ministerial colleagues and MLAs should not interfere in the teacher rationalization policy as such uncalled for pressure would result in negative repercussion and spill Government policy for equal educational opportunity to the student community.

Regretting inability to point out exact number of Education Department employees and precise strength of staffs in the State educational institutions, the Minister asserted that a meeting of concerned ZEOs, head of institutes and DIs has been convened tomorrow to discuss on the issue.

On the issue of part time lecturers, he said the problem arose due to bifurcation of higher secondaries from colleges without prior arrangement on creating relevant posts (lecturers) to cater to the impending demand.

To solve the problem of part-time lecturers it is highly essential that steps should be taken to enroll new lecturers, he maintained.

Endorsing reports of attempts by unscrupulous elements to encroach/grab school/college lands, the Minister stated that instructions have been issued to relevant departments to demarcate boundaries of educational institutions and allot document in the name of the institution to prevent future complications.

The Centre has also in-principle approved State proposal to convert Manipur University to a Central university for which having land space of 133 acres is an important criteria, he added.

Even though pressure are being mounted from several quarters to expedite the conversion process State Government�s endeavors to achieve the same has run into certain barriers like reluctance of encroachers to move out from the encroached portion, Francis deplored.

He also stated that on proper demarcation the MU complex could acquire 130 acres and expressed desire to establish MU�s History Department complex at the historic hillock within the campus that is presently occupied by security force personnel.

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