Workshop focuses on education challenges, reforms
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 03 2025: A state-level workshop on "Schooling: Building Blocks", a sub-theme of the 5th National Conference of Chief Secretaries 2025-26, was held at the City Convention Centre, Palace Compound, here, on Sunday.

The event was organised by Samagra Shiksha, State Implementing Society, Manipur, with education department officials, academicians and experts deliberating on key issues in the state's school education system with Education (S) secretary N Praveen, and Samagra Shiksha, state project director Ng Bhogendra as members of the dais.

Speaking on the theme, Ng Bhogendra informed that the workshop was organised as a follow-up to the national-level workshop of chief secretaries held on July 8 .

Themes relevant to the state were selected from those discussed nationally, and experts were invited to share inputs.

Workshop focuses on education challenges, reforms

He said that feedback from the deliberations would be compiled and submitted to the Chief Secretaries' Conference scheduled for November.

Addressing administrative matters, Bhogendra confirmed that an enquiry is underway through the Zonal Education Officer regarding reports of two principals at a Heirok Higher Secondary School, adding that the truth will be revealed soon.

On the teacher shortage issue, he conceded that out of 17,000 sanctioned posts, only 51 per cent are currently filled, leaving a shortage of 49 per cent.

While the department avoids mid-term transfers, they are Sometimes necessary due to health reasons or retirements, explained the project director.

He noted that 90 arts graduate teachers have been selected from the waiting list, and 174 new teachers have joined under a Supreme Court directive.

Efforts will be made to post them in remote areas where they are most needed, Bhogendra assured.

The workshop also featured expert presentations pn various aspects of education reform.

Early childhood expert and chairperson of Early Childhood Development Forum, Guwahati, Dr Vasavi Achariya spoke on "Sustaining and Extending Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN)" .

HER Soft Skill Training Institute director Khangembam Ran-jita deliberated on "Life Skill & Holistic Personality Development", while Manipur University Teacher Education department assistant professor Dr Koijam Sobita talked on "Aligning Roles of School Management Committees in line with NEP 2020".Chancharick Choudhury from Turbit, Shillong, spoke on "Levelling the Playing Field: How to Democratise Innovation and Emergent Technologies among Rural and Suburban Schools", and Siloni Sanjenbam of SS Career, Manipur, on "Creating Robust Mentorship and Career Advisory Platforms and Ecosystem for High School Students" .

State Child Protection Society programme officer Mala Lisham highlighted the importance of "Convergence among Departments" in strengthening the education system.

The event served as a platform for discussing strategies to improve educational access, teacher availability, innovation, and coordination among institutions ahead of the national conference later this year.