Imphal, September 28 2010: Objecting to abolition of Ideal Girls' College at Akampat, students' union of the college has threatened to launch intense agitation if the abolition order is not cancelled at the earliest possible.

It is said that Directorate of University and Higher Education, Government of Manipur had issued an order on June 30 last to stop new admission in the college for the academic session 2010-2011 stating that the college would be abolished/merged with another college.

Talking to mediapersons in this regard today, general secretary of the students' union A Sonia Devi demanded that the said order should be cancelled.

Otherwise, the students of the college would launch various intense agitations.

Being the only girls' college in Imphal East district, Ideal Girls' College was recognised by the Government of Manipur in 1980.The college offers Science and Arts stream at class X Iand XII level.

However, at the TDC level only Arts stream is being offered.

Sonia pointed out that number of students enrolled in the college is not much because of lack of necessary infrastructures.

If Science stream is offered at the TDC level and if the required teaching and non-teaching staff were appointed and necessary infrastructure provided, then the college would definitely attract more students.

All these matters have been brought to the notice of related Department and Minister.

But instead of looking into these demands, the Government has announced that the college would be abolished and merged with another college on the ground that there are very few students.

This is unreasonable and not acceptable, Sonia said.

Moreover, most of the students in the college are from poor families who want afford to go outside the State for study, she added.

Informing that there are 99 students in the college at present, Sonia suggested that to increase the number of students, Science stream should also be offered at the TDC level.

She noted that as there is no scope for further studies in Science subjects, most of the science students migrated to other colleges after passing class XII.

Reiterating that abolition of Ideal Girls' College, which is the only girls' college in Imphal East district and one of the only two colleges for girls in the State, is unacceptable, Sonia asserted that instead of abolition the college, it should be upgraded.

There are just 20 regular teachers in the college.

At the honours level, there are only two teachers each for Geography and Police Science and only one teacher for English.

This is contrary to the fact that there should be atleast six teachers each if an Honours subject is being offered, she further pointed out.

She also pointed out that there is no proper fencing wall around the college campus and there is no drinking water.

The condition of the library is also outdated and there is no internet and electricity facility in the college.

Though a hostel of the college has been set up, necessary infrastructures are not there.

Because of this, if even they want to stay in the hostels, the students are hesitant.

Principal of the College Dr S Ashalata observed that it being a girls' college, instead of abolishing, the college should be upgraded along with providing necessary infrastructure so as to encourage education of the girls.

In fact, now is the time the Government of India has been paying special thrust to the education of girl students, the principal added.

Comment