Bandh called on Imp-Moreh route
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 08, 2013: Demanding permission to ket the 'left out students' of 2011 and 2012 appear in the ensuing Class X Compartment examination, Naga Students' Union, Chandel (NSUC) and Kuki Students' Organisation, Chandel have called a bandh along Imphal-Moreh route from midnight of June 10 to midnight of June 11. The bandh would continue further if Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BOSEM) fails to give a positive response in this regard, said a the two student bodies in a joint press statement issued today.

The demands of the two bodies include conduct of a special HSLC examination for 'left out students' in the ensuing Compartmental examination 2013, acceptance of the list of students submitted by the schools in December 2012 and allotment of registration numbers to those students submitted by the schools.

Saying that barring 6928 enrolled students from appearing in HSLC examinations 2012 and 2013 for two consecutive years by the Board is definitely a breach of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, the student bodies said that the move of the Board is tantamount to jeopardising the academic career of these students.

Refuting the white paper which was made public by the Board on February 24 this year, the two bodies said that after receiving registration fees for Class VIII, IX and enrolment fees for Class X from 6928 students of 38 schools, the Board entrusted All Manipur Students' Guardians Organisation (AMSGO) to make correction/reduction of the list instead of sending it to the school authorities concerned.

The press release further alleged that AMSGO reduced the number of students to around 4300 by removing the list of students submitted by the schools and inserting the list prepared by 'agents' using forged signatures and seals.

Saying that the Joint Secretary of AMSGO had also accepted the fact and told the school authorities that the lists might have been manipulated by some persons (agents) who were hired for sorting out the names of the students, the student bodies said that the Chairman and Secretary of the Board had accepted the manipulation and wrongdoings on more than one occasion.

When the school founders and Principals requested the Secretary to accept the only lists submitted by the school authorities, he allegedly asked the school authorities to submit a representation and asked them to deposit fresh enrolment fees as the case in pending in the Court.

Saying that the school authorities submitted the original lists of students in December 2012, the press release added that the request was rejected by the Board and the Examination Committee.

Then, the HSLC examination 2012 affected schools association approached the Education Minister on August 17 last year and February 5 this year.

However, no concrete action had been taken up in this regard.

NSUC representatives then attempted to meet the Education Minister three times, but the appointment was not given, the press release added.

After unsuccessful attempts, the school authorities submitted a representation to the Board announcing their series of agitation plans, the press release added.

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