School re-opening deferred to Jul 1
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 20 2023:
Even as the date for opening schools has been deferred to July 1, students and parents have opined that the present environment is not conducive and proper measures are required to safely and securely resume normal classes.
Many of the students and parents this reporter talked to observed that opening schools early before bringing normalcy will not be effective.
Sadokpam Uttam, a Class IX student of Moirangpurel High School, who is staying at a relief camp opened at Wangkhei High School said the Government should device a policy that would address the issues facing the students affected by the present conflict between the Meiteis and the Kukis.
Uttam said his family fled their home at Tumukhong on May 4 after violent conflict erupted between the communities.
Even as he wants schools to open, without proper measures, the students at relief camps will not be able to attend classes, Uttam said.
Mutum Tabi Devi, a mother of two children said she is not aware of any welfare measures taken by the Government for students and children at relief camps and appealed to the Government to take up appropriate measures to provide education to the children/students at the camps.
To open the schools, the Government must first improve the law and order and take up adequate measures for students' safety and security.
Without proper security measures, parents will not be willing to send their wards to schools amid the present tension, she said.
Wangkheirakpam Lenin, a father from Haobam Marak Keisham Leikai said even though the situation has improved slightly in Imphal, there are violent incidents still happening at the peripheries of the valley and the situation is volatile.
Amid the current tension, sending children to schools will be risky.
Even in Imphal area, situation may change in a moment.
No parents will want to risk the safety of their children and send them to schools, he said.
Lenin said the Government should deploy adequate security forces in the vulnerable areas to control the Kuki militants, contain violence and restore normalcy.
Adequate security measures must be put in place first to open the schools, he added.
Another parent said many of the Government schools have been converted to relief camps and these institutions can't be opened to students.
Further, students displaced by the conflict and in vulnerable areas will not be able to attend schools if the Government doesn't bring out a clear and dedicated policy for providing education to the conflict affected students.
Schools should be opened when the environment is conducive and the students should be allowed to transfer and attend schools located in safe places, he said.