Students protest lacuna in NEP course
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 13 2025: A large number of college students led by the Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) staged a protest rally on Tuesday against non-implementation of the four-year undergraduate programme in college education under the National Education Policy (NEP)-2020 .

The rally starting from the DESAM office at Kwakeithel, proceeded towards the Raj Bhavan but was intercepted by security forces at Keishampat junction.

After a brief standoff, police allowed select representatives of DESAM to meet government authorities with approval from higher officials.

Students protest lacuna in NEP course

The DESAM representatives met education director (Universities) L Radhakanta, even as the other barricaded protesters, with placards in their hands, continued to chant slogans demanding implementation of four-year undergraduate programme under NEP-2020 in colleges.

Director Radhakanta reportedly informed the DESAM leaders that colleges which are to open four-year undergraduate programme and details of subjects to be offered will be notified by May 30.Speaking to media persons after meeting the director, DESAM president M Somorjit Meetei expressed serious concern over the state government's failure to fully implement the NEP-2020.He said that students preparing for the 6th Semester undergraduate examinations scheduled from June 13 face uncertainty over continuation of their academic programmes due to the absence of syllabi and guidelines for the 7th and 8th semesters.

Although the NEP was partially introduced in Manipur from the 2022-23 academic session, the government is yet to announce the curriculum or the institutions where the extended semesters under the new four-year undergraduate structure will be conducted.

"It is unclear whether NEP-2020 is actually being implemented or not," he said and demanded that the government make its stand clear.

According to Somorjit, students were compelled to take to the streets as the government has remained silent for a long time on their demands.

He alleged that no concrete step for opening four-year undergraduate programme under NEP-2020 was taken up despite submitting memorandums to education department officials repeatedly.

He then urged government to make an immediate and clear announcement to safeguard academic future of the students.

While informing that a delegation of DESAM met director L Radhakanta on Tuesday though unable to meet the Governor and commissioner (education) due their hectic schedules, Somorjit said the director assured to take up positive steps for opening four-year undergraduate programme within May 30."We will wait until May 30 trusting the assurance given by director but intense agitation will be followed if no concrete step is seen after the date," he warned.