NSUC highlights issues of displaced Naga students of Chandel, Tengnoupal
Source: The Sangai Express

Chandel, August 05 2023: The Naga Students' Union Chandel (NSUC) appealed to the Director of Education (Schools), Government of Manipur to address the issues relating to admission and transfer of displaced students due to the present violence with respect to the Naga students belonging to Chandel and Tengnoupal districts.

In a letter addressed to the Director of Education (Schools), President NSUC, SK Joseph Lamkang highlighted several significant obstacles faced by the Naga students in connection with the order issued by the Directorate of Education (Schools) to facilitate the admission process.

The student body highlighted the following issues faced by the Naga students amid the prevailing tense situation in the State - Non-issuance of Transfer Certificates and related documents by the schools concerned in the valley areas under Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur (COHSEM) and Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BOSEM) for displaced students belonging to the Naga community of Chandel and Tengnoupal districts.

- The schools in the valley districts are forcing the Naga students from these two districts to return to their previous/respective schools instead of issuing the required documents without any assurance of safety for the students, adding more trauma to the already affected students.

- With regards to the casual informations passed on by some schools in the valley districts asking the students to study in correspondence, i.e., to just study in any schools in Chandel and Tengnoupal districts and conversely that the students write their Higher Secondary Examination and High School Leaving Certificate Examinations in Imphal etc, under the name of their previous schools, the Union questioned whether such rules about studying in correspondence exist or not.

- Students are forced to change their offered subjects to as per the facilities and subjects of the respective schools where they get admission as schools in the jurisdiction of NSUC do not have adequate facilities and subjects to receive the displaced students.

- The latest COHSEM notice directing 'the students to take admission in the nearest schools located within the vicinity of the previous schools' is adding more psychological woes to the aggrieved Naga students which is empowering the schools in the valley districts to not issue transfer and other required documents .

- Some institutions are charging certain amount for change of subjects etc regardless of the order which is in place to allow the affected students to change their subjects without hassle and without payment of additional fees.

- The inconveniences faced by the locals of Chandel and Tengnoupal districts especially the Nagas to freely commute without fear to the valley districts especially to Imphal has further exacerbated the challenges in obtaining required documents from the schools which are required to take admissions in their respective districts.

Further the affected students are reported to have developed academic related depression due to these critical situations and they are not in a mental position to return to their respective schools.

In the light of the above challenges, the NSUC urged the authorities concerned to take immediate and proactive measures to address the difficulties in obtaining school admission and associated issues during this turmoil in the State.

The student body maintained that 'It is crucial to create a safe and conducive environment for both students and educational institutions to ensure that the Right to Education is protected and upheld' .

Moreover the uncertainty caused by the ongoing unrest has created a phobia of instability affecting the mental well-being of students and parents alike.

The constant fear and insecurity have made it challenging for parents to focus on their children's education and make well-informed decisions regarding their future.

Lastly the union urged the competent authority to take special admission drives to accommodate students affected directly or indirectly by the violence.

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