Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 08 2010:
Justifying the 72-hour bandh being called by the JAC for 2006/2009 Autonomous District Council DPC Faced Candidates' Parents and Guardians, Manipur, Ex-MP BD Behring has stated that the trend of not announcing the results of DPCs for a long time should be stopped.
In a statement, the ex-MP pointed out that 835 candidates who have faced DPC in 2006 and got recommendation and given salaries were among the candidates who faced the DPC again in 2009.This was not the fault of the candidates but of the Government because these candidates have been made to face the fresh DPC after they have been selected and paid salaries, knowing fully that there are no posts at that time.
The trend of not announcing the results of DPCs for a long time should be stopped and more particularly the DPCs for selection of teachers whose job is to teach should be announced without delay, he contended.
Pointing out that Right to Education Act which envisages to provide free and compulsory education to all children in the age group of 6 to 14 years had been enforced since April 1, the ex-MP observed that if we are to educate the children then establishment of schools in all remote hill areas and appointment of teachers is required.
On the present situation of primary schools in the hill areas of Manipur, the ex-MP enumerated that in Chandel district which has a population of 1,18,327 and 471 villages, the number of primary schools and the teachers are respectively 129 and 427 respectively.
In Tamenglong where the total population is 1,11,499 and the number of villages is 218, there are only 146 primary teachers and 605 teachers.
In Ukhrul, there are 158 primary schools and 524 teachers despite the fact that the district has a total population of 1,40,778 people in 227 villages.
In Senapati district, which has a total population of 1,27,108 people and 143 villages, the number of existing primary schools and teachers working in them are respectively 141 and 431.In Kangpokpi/Sadar Hills, the total population is 1,56,513 and the number of villages is 564.But there are only 182 primary schools and 543 teachers.
Similarly, in Churachandpur which has a total population of 2,27,905 in 677 villages, there are only 170 primary schools and 509 teachers.
This shows that if we are to achieve the goal of free and compulsory education to the children, the DPC for selection of teachers under the district councils, which are over 3000, should be declared and the selected teachers should be send to each and every villages, the ex-MP asserted.
There is also the need for establishing new schools in villages which do not have schools and then create new posts of teachers.
Then only, the goal of free and compulsory education could be achieved, he added.