COVID effect on education sector: AMSU urges Government to come out with concrete policy
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 30 2020: The All Manipur Students Association (AMSU) has urged the State Government to work out a concrete plan to help students, especially those who are appearing in the coming class X and XII examinations.

AMSU, in its statement said that COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown induced by it has affected all spheres of life.

It has also its impact in Manipur forcing economic activities to shut down and causing a serious health crisis, said AMSU.

Many have been infected with the virus and cases of death in the State are rising while many are leaving behind the fear and indulging themselves in small businesses such as selling vegetables, fruits, fishes and other daily use items in every corner of the State with the closure of the Ima Keithel and other main markets, it said.

As the condition of health and other sectors are in deplorable conditions, the State should lay down a very insightful and lasting policy to effectively deal with the COVID-19 issue, it said.

The Government should also consider the plight of the vendors of these markets and extend some assistance since their livelihood have been badly affected due to the prolonged imposition of lockdown, it continued.

What is more concerning is the future of the students who are the pillars of the society, said AMSU while lamenting the inaction of the State Government to devise ways to restart the learning process in schools, colleges and universities.

The recent statement of the Education Minister regarding his desire to raise a proposal about the allowance of use of Meitei Mayek script in MPSC examinations, in the Cabinet meeting, is worth appreciating, said AMSU while expressing hope that the Minister will surely keep his words.

If not attended timely, the fate of students appearing in the crucial class X and XI examinations are certainly going to be ruined and it is unfortunate that the State Government is not taking much interest in laying out a proper strategy and solving such issue.

To their credit, most of the private schools managed to carry forward the learning process somehow by conducting online classes, but unfortunately the Government schools have not initiated any laudable moves to continue the teaching-learning process intact, it said.

What is more interesting is that while teachers of private schools who render service on meagre salary manage to contribute well, the teachers of Government schools enjoying handsome salaries chose to remain silent, said AMSU and questioned their motives.

Sitting idle and only waiting for the directives of the Education Department without caring for students who are bereft of education for months is very 'unbecoming' on the part of Government teachers.

Even as some of the higher secondary schools in Imphal have introduced online classes, most of the students who came from weaker economic background are unable to make the most of the classes, it continued while appealing the State Government to come out with a more inclusive mechanism to ensure learning of all students regardless of their position and economic background.

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