Biometric to monitor teachers' attendance
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, March 05 2013: Expressing concern over irregular attendance of college teachers, Education Minister Moirangthem Okendro today informed that biometric attendance system would be installed in all government colleges of the state very soon so as to monitor the attendance of the teachers online by the Education Department directly.

He also announced that the government would be adopting 'no work, no pay' policy for teachers to ensure regular and improved education sector in the state.

The Minister was speaking Chief Guest of the Golden Jubilee Celebration of Moirang College.

Minister Okendro appealed to the teachers to remain as teachers and do their duties sincerely for a better education scenario in the state and get the satisfaction of producing good students.

The Minister maintained that the number of teachers indulging in knitting works in schools and colleges or taking up contract works have reduced significantly.

The Minister assured that librarians would be appointed in all the 28 Government colleges very soon, Moreover, the college libraries would have separate reading rooms for teachers to enable them to update their knowledge.

With such facilities, the government colleges in the state would now witness increasing number of students in the coming years, the Minister expressed confidence.

Education Minister Moirangthem Okendro at Golden Jubilee Celebration of Moirang College

The government is also planning to bring development in higher education under Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), the Minister said, adding that the Centre would bear 90 percent of the fund required for development of higher education under RUSA while state would me meeting a minimal share of 10 percent.

Stating that the government has special plans for the part time lecturers as well, the Minister appealed to the Part Time Lecturers not to get disheartened by the little amount of honorarium they are getting presently.

The Minister went on to inform that the government is also planning to take over the 12 Aided Colleges in the State in the near future.

As of now, there will be incentive policies for the teachers in such colleges as per their performances.

Education Department has allotted postings to its officials on January 29 after conducting a DPC based on seniority list on the previous day, the Minister said and added that the reason for the swift action in announcing the DPC result and allotment of postings was to prevent bribery and nepotism in their postings.

The government has also plan to fill up the vacant posts of AIs and other important officers in the Education Department through Manipur Education Services, the Minister said.

The Minister explained that the government has no plan to appoint teachers as of now.

Instead, the government will utilise the existing teacher strength to its fullest.

The Education Minister observed that most of the newly appointed Primary teachers under SSA are rather very good teachers who have served in the various private schools of the state.

Reiterating that Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh led Congress government in the State is giving special attention towards development of education sector, the Minister asserted that studying outside the state is not the solution to bring better education in the state.

In fact, the trend of going outside the State to study has resulted in draining away a huge amount of revenue.

Moreover, students from the state are facing various difficulties and threats while studying outside.

Interestingly, Manipur is witnessing a significant decrease in the number of students going outside to study since last year, he added.

Furthermore, the Minister announced that the government is planning to increase the number of model schools in all the districts to improve education system.

After implementing the Right to Education (RTE), Centre is discussing to implement Food Security Act for the students so that no students discontinue their study due to hunger.

Noting that there are not many qualified people in the state to become teachers if the government is to adopt UGC norms fully at the time of appointing teachers, Minister Okendro appealed to the people of the state to cooperate with the government in its bid to bring a visible development in education sector.

He also invited suggestions from the people to bring about development in education sector.

Parliamentary Secretary M Prithviraj and MLA of Kumbi A/C S Bira, who were also present and spoke on the occasion, stressed on the changing scenario of education in the state as well as on the various development strategies that have been adopted by the government to develop education sector.

Earlier, Education Minister Okendro inaugurated the newly constructed Indoor Stadium of the College.

Floral tributes were also paid to late founders of the college and a photo exhibition was held on the sidelines.

Apart from releasing a souvenir to mark the occasion, the golden jubilee celebration also witnessed presentation of gifts to founders and former Principals of the college.