'Textbooks will be made available within the next 10 days'
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, June 15 2011: Three months have passed since the commencement of the session of schools and still the problem of non-availability of textbooks is yet to be eased.

The June 15 deadline given by the Education Minister as well as Principal Secretary of school education which led to the suspension of agitations of the student bodies demanding availability of textbooks expired today.

But, the authority has failed to keep the set deadline.

When the assurance failed to be translated into action, Principal Secretary (Education), Dr Suresh Babu said that 10 days from today, there will be no shortage of textbooks.

Speaking as chief guest at a function held at St Joseph to felicitate toppers of the school in the recently declared HSLC exam results, the Principal Secretary said that as the printing presses in the state could not produce the textbooks on time, it is being printed in printing firms in Guwahati.

He asserted that 85% of the textbooks which are in shortage are being printed in Guwahati and the books will arrive in Imphal in the next 10 days.

There will be no problem of non-availability of textbooks after 10 days, he added.

To prevent repetition of non-availability of text books, the government has decided to engage printing firms in Guwahati so that textbooks are made available in the market by February from the next year.

Given the fact that due to delay in the declaration of HSLC exams conducted by the Board of Secondary Education Manipur, state students are finding it difficult in seeking admission to good schools outside the state, Suresh Babu informed that the BSEM will help students seeking admission to schools of their choice.

The Principal Secretary further announced that the government is considering taking up a policy which will reserve 25% seats in each private school for students of poor families.

The students admitted in the reserved seats are to be provided free education under the policy and it will be translated into work from next year, he added.

On today's occasion, position holder students of the St Joseph were felicitated.

They are first position holder of this year's HSLC exam, Ningthoujam Rishikant Singh, third position holder Soubam Daniel Singh, fourth position holder Laiphrakpam Rashil Simon, seventh position holder Wangkhem Jolyson, eighth position holder Siddarth Ningthoujam, 17th position holder Moirangthem Igamcha, 18th position Leichombam Somorjit Singh, 21th position holder Loitongbam Dinesh Singh, 22th Swarnajit Tongbram and 23th poition holder Rajkumar Santosh.

Archbishop Most Rev Dominic Leemon presided over the felicitation function in which Prof W Nabakumar attended as guest of honour.

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