Minister's audacious stand hindering session start
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 06 2012: Even though Education Minister M Okendro's landmark directive to head of institutions for accommodating all the students who seek admission was intended to ensure education at their favourite schools, the audacious decision is undoubtedly delaying commencement of the academic session at three reputed Government higher secondaries in the capital area.

Following reports of many students, who had passed matriculation examination, unlikely to get admission at Tamphasana Girls, Johnstone and Churachand Higher Secondary schools, Minister Okendro made an official statement that every admission seeker should be accommodated for which requisite teaching staff and school infrastructure would be provided by the Government.

Based on the Minister's directive admission exercise to class XI was put on place at these institutions, where the number of freshers reached an unprecedented figure.

It is said that among the three higher secondaries, Tamphasana had maximum number of admission seekers as it was the only reputed Government school exclusively for the girls.

While most private as well as some Government higher secondary schools are already in advance stage in terms of academic session, there is still no sign of when the session will commence in the three institutions for not only are these schools facing infrastructure inadequacy but also admission process is yet to cease as result of the HSLC compartmental examination was declared only on July 4 evening.

According to TG Higher Secondary School Principal T Pramodini Devi, Minister Okendro announced on June 5 that there should be no limit on the number of admission to class XI .

Along with the announcement, the number of fresh admission in the school has reached 894 in science stream till date while 330 will be pursuing general studies.

The number of commerce students is said to be 63, thus burgeoning the total student strength to a whooping 1287 .

Despite the healthy admission figure there is no certainty on when the current academic session would commence, conceded the Principal adding that apart from the need to wait for more fresh admission the school is facing shortage of teaching staff as well as infrastructure inadequacy.

Informing that infrastructure development work such as construction of additional classrooms has already started along with the recent posting of seven new teaching staff taking the total strength to 61, she nevertheless pointed out that proper education could be ensured only when the requisite teacher strength of 87 could be achieved.

Shortage of teaching staff has already been intimated to the department concerned, Pramodini said who also confided that the School had actually targeted 206 science stream students, 200 in arts and 62 in commerce stream.

Regretting impromptu decision of the Education minister hindering commencement of the academic session, she also explained that for judicious education of the class XI freshers, science streams will have to be clustered into nine sections and arts four while commerce students could be entertained without any division.

Another inconvenience said to have triggered by the overwhelming number of students concerns table/chair deficiency.

Expressing hope that the present problems would be resolved at the earliest to facilitate smooth commencement of the academic session, the Principal also informed that normal classes for XII standard have started since May 23 .

Conveying that admission process had officially ended on June 6, the Principal disclosed of entertaining fresh admission in class XI to 4/5 students due to pressure/intimation from influential section.

Interacting with The Sangai Express Churachand Higher Secondary School Principal S Indrani Devi listed 447 fresh admission in science stream for current session in the class XI whereas 145 have been admission in arts stream and 16 in commerce.

The previous academic session had 120 in science stream, 90 in arts and 20 commerce students, informed the Principal who also highlighted that strength of the teaching staff need to increased to 70 from the present number of 41 .

Confiding that the school's tentative schedule to commence class XI session was from June 20 which had to be delayed following the Minister's decision for no limit on freshers, the Principal also conceded that the school's intention to start class from july 9 is also very remote.

Ongoing construction of laboratory section and practical class deficiency have been cited as the other factors for the school authorities unable to start the session.

Upon contact, Johnstone Higher Secondary School Principal L Indu Devi elaborated that 280 students have been admitted in class XI science stream so far while it is 175 and 35 respectively for arts and commerce streams.

Expecting more admission seekers from among successful candidates of the HSLC compartmental examination, the Principal informed that in the previous academic session the school had 299 science students in class XI with the arts stream figure put at 177 and commerce 28 .

Apart from expecting fresh admission seekers apparently delaying commencement of the session, it is also informed that Government run institution has 46 lecturers, six part time teachers and three others imparting education on contract basis.

Compared to the School's demand for 17 more teaching staff, Education Department has provided four new teachers, said the Principal adding that there is shortage of teaching staff for english, physics and mathematic subjects.

Conveying that provision of requisite number of teachers would ensure smooth conduct of classes, she said the School is aiming to start the class XI academic session from July 11 .

On the hand Dr Sorokhaibam Chaoba Singh, who is the principal of privately-run Brajalal Institute of Science, Moirangkhom said that class XI session had started from June 25 with a total strength of 60 students.

While conveying that atleast 2/3 chapters have been covered so far, Chaoba also confirmed that academic session in most of the private higher secondary schools started several weeks back.

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