DESAM flays unethical lobbying
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 23 2015: The Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) has alleged that some Ministers, MLAs, the Chief Secretary and a Deputy Commissioner were lobbying with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to allow thousands of students studying in schools affiliated to CBSE but whose recognition has been cancelled to appear for the Class X and Class XII examinations.

Speaking to media persons at their office today, DESAM president M Angamba said that Class X and Class XII exams of CBSE are scheduled to commence from March 2 and March 3 respectively but thousands of State students are yet to receive their admit cards.

Subsequently, DESAM inspected some schools namely Central Institute of Science, Galaxy Senior Secondary School, Akash Institute of Science and Arts, Ram Krishna Higher Secondary School and Asian Co-education Institutes.

These schools are not recognised by CBSE and this is the main reason why thousands of students are now facing a serious predicament.

Now officials of these schools have been working to enable their students appear the Class X and Class XII exams by attaching the students to two schools still recognised by CBSE, Angamba said.

MM Higher Secondary School, Wangkhei and Little Rose Higher Secondary School, Canchipur are equally culpable for their assent to the proposal to attach students of unrecognised schools to them.

Recognition given to the two schools should be cancelled, he demanded.

If one should appear CBSE's Class X, registration certificate and other necessary documents should be submitted but parents submitted fake registration certificates at the time of admission in their quest for higher marks.

At the same time, school authorities have been working with the sole intention of earning maximum profits.

CBSE schools of the State have become an easy means for clearing Class X and Class XII exams without putting in any labour.

In the meantime, Works Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar wrote a DO letter to CBSE Chairman Satbir Bedi on February 9 seeking permission for 617 students and another 657 students to appear for the Class X and Class XII exams respectively at MM Higher Secondary School.

Likewise, PC Lawmkunga wrote a similar DO letter to the CBSE Chairman on February 17.MLA T Mangibabu too sent a DO letter on February 10.Another DO was sent by Imphal East DC M Joy on February 11 to Satbir Bedi, Angamba alleged.

In response, Satbir Bedi sent a letter asking the State officials to verify the students but the State officials could not give any reply.

Earlier in November last year, Sandeep Das of CBSE Guwahati Regional Office sent a letter to the State Education Secretary asking that an official of the Manipur Education Committee be sent.

But again, no official was sent, Angamba said.

The students have not been issued their admit cards because all their registration certificates are fakes.

Even as thousands of students have landed themselves in a serious predicament, the Education Minister still chooses to act mute and blind.

It appears that the Education Minister has been indirectly supporting complete commercialization of education sector and changing all students into business commodities.

All those officials/individuals involved in playing with the career and lives of students should come to the office of DESAM.

Founders of these particular schools affiliated to CBSE have gone into hiding.

Altogether 2200 students are yet to receive their admit cards for appearing in the Class X and Class XII exams, Angamba added.

DESAM general secretary P Premchandra said that a joint meeting of all college students unions would be held at DESAM office at 11 am tomorrow to discuss about the ongoing cease work strike of college teachers.

He also invited representatives of college student unions to the meeting.

Meanwhile, a group of students came to the office of The Sangai Express this afternoon and complained that they have just been issued admit cards for appearing CBSE's Class X and Class XII exams even though the two exams are barely a week away.

They demanded that the Government and school authorities must ensure that they do not miss the opportunity of giving the two crucial exams.

On the other hand, students of Akash Institute of Science and Arts, Kwakeithel Thokchom Leikai staged a protest demonstration today right in front of the institute against the school authority's failure to deliver their admit cards for appearing in CBSE's Class X and Class XII exams.

A group of parents also took part in the protest demonstration and they said that they have drafted a memorandum to be submitted to the Chief Minister.

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