Imphal, September 08: Even as Chief Minister O Ibobi has fervently appealed to all concerned to call off the class boycott stir, Minister of Education (S) and Higher & Technical Education Francis Ngajokpa has stated that strict action would be initiated against those teachers who do not come to their schools and colleges under the excuse of the class boycott agitation being launched by the students demanding removal of AFSPA.

Expressing deep concern over the continuing class boycott stir, the Chief Minister in a statement said that boycotting classes will have a negative impact on the academic pursuit of the students.

The Chief Minister asserted that educational institutions should be kept away from any sort of agitation and said that history is Witness to the fact that the even the two World Wars did not disturb the students.

Meanwhile talking to The Sangai Express today, Education Minister Francis Ngajokpa observed that it is the duty of the teachers to come to their schools and colleges even if the students stay away from their classes.

An inspection tour of the schools and colleges will be conducted and those who are found absent would be pulled up and strong action against them will be taken up, the Minister said.

He said that educational institutions, which are considered as the main human resource centre of a society, and the Education Department which gives soul to these institutions are in a pathetic condition in Manipur.

Unlike, in other States, here in Manipur educational institutions are always dragged into any agitation thereby putting the academic careers of the students at stake, he lamented, while observing that this trend is not good for development of the society.

Replying to a question, the Education Minister said that efforts are being made to hold talks with the agitators to end the class boycott stir and allow the students to resume their normal classes.

To another question, he ruled out any Government decision to change the examination schedule of the examination to be conducted for schools and colleges because of the ongoing agitation.

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