All schools in Imphal West have re-opened : Basanta
Steps taken for displaced students spelt out
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, October 26 2023: Highlighting the remedial measures undertaken by the Government for displaced students, Education Minister Th Basanta Kumar Singh has informed that all schools in Imphal West district have reopened.

Addressing a press briefing held today at DIPR auditorium, Keishampat, the Education Minister stated that out of a total of 4617 schools in Manipur, 26 schools are yet to reopen as they are being utilized as relief camps, as accommodation for CAPF or are located in sensitive areas.

As a result of the crisis, 140 schools were initially converted into relief camps, out of which 114 schools have reopened owing to concerted efforts made by the Education Department to shift the conflict survivors to other suitable locations.

All schools in Imphal West have re-opened : Basanta

Out of the remaining 26 closed schools, 18 are at Churachandpur, 3 at Imphal East, another 3 in Jiribam and 1 each in Kangpokpi and Chandel districts, said the Education Minister while adding that there is cent per cent opening of schools in Imphal West.

When schools reopened on July 5 (Class I to VIII) and July 10 (Class IX to XII), the attendance rate was only 36%.However, it has risen to 77% by October 23, he shared.

Relief camps were also opened in 7 Government aided colleges.

Till the end of September, 3 Government colleges were used to accommodate Central Paramilitary Forces.

However, colleges in the State were reopened on September 6 and all efforts are underway to reopen the colleges that have been utilized as relief camps and accommodation for security forces, said Th Basanta Kumar.

He added that in order to cover the prescribed syllabus, Saturdays will no longer be a holiday and winter vacation period will be shortened.

Highlighting the activities undertaken by the Government for the displaced students, Minister Basanta said that nodal officers and volunteers were appointed to ensure free admission of displaced students and distribution of study materials, textbooks, stationery items and uniforms.

Identity cards and certificates were also issued to all the students free of cost.

The Government has further set up a control room that works in coordination with the nodal officers to look after the shortage of books and uniforms for such students.

15,915 identity cards have been issued to displaced students registered at 347 relief camps till now, out of which 15,641 students have been readmitted to nearby schools, he added.

He also said that 98.28% of these 15,915 students were given admission free of cost and all facilities provided to overcome bottlenecks in their education.

Basanta further stated that the Chief Minister's College Students Rehabilitation Scheme 2023 has been launched to ensure free admission, one time rehabilitation grant and free smart phones to facilitate distance learning for displaced college students.

So far, 938 college students have applied for the scheme.

Meanwhile, a committee called "Committee for guiding on the path of development in Education" with Commissioner Education as the Chairman has been formed to bring normalcy back into the lives of students.

Pointing out some alternative teaching-learning modes that have been introduced, Basanta conveyed that an educational TV channel called "Lairik" was launched on Jio TV to provide e-learning content free of cost.

Radio drama based on academic curriculum called "Radio Class" is being aired by AIR Imphal.

A mobile app called "LAIRIK" is also available on Google Play Store that provides more than 1300 videos for students from Class I to XII.

Talks are also underway to broadcast educational programs/lessons on ISTV and other local channels, he added.

He also mentioned that a proposal for supplementary financial support to the displaced students has been submitted to the Ministry of Education, Government of India.

It may be mentioned that the proposal contains provisions for tablets, white board, textbooks, notebooks, stationery items, supplementary books, sports items, first aid kits and uniforms.

Commissioner Education H Gyan Prakash (IAS); Director of Education (S) L Nandakumar Singh, IAS and Additional Director Education (U) P Shantikumar Singh, MCS also attended the press meet.