DESAM protest continues
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, June 17 2024:
Demanding unconditional release of its members arrested for protesting against recruitment of untrained teachers, volunteers of Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) on Monday set on fire effigies of the education minister, and commissioner and director of Education Department.
DESAM Thoubal District Council volunteers burnt the effigies at Thoubal Bazar, while its volunteers in Kakching district carried out the protest at Wabagai Lamkhai.
Speaking in this regard, DESAM Thoubal secretary general Keisham Robinson asked the government authorities to ensure that only trained teachers are engaged for the teaching profession to promote quality education.
In case untrained teachers are recruited, then the government should adopt a policy to permit direct recruitment of doctors and engineers after completion of Class XII and allow them to pursue basic courses as a formality, the secretary remarked sarcastically.
Voicing resentment that those abetting recruitment centred on nepotism are being patronised, while advocating cleansing flaws in the system are punished, he demanded recruitment of the qualified teachers under the NCTE by setting up teacher training institutes.
The education minister, and commission and director of the Education (S) Department should tender resignation in case they could not oppose wrong policies of the government, Robinson maintained and reiterated the demand that detained members of DESAM be released unconditionally without further delay.
Similar protests of setting on fire effigies of the minister and bureaucrats were also carried out by DESAM Imphal West and East district councils on Sunday.