Leader Writer: Hrishikesh Angom
Education once regarded as `sacred` has become a `commodity` in today`™s highly commercialized world. Many private firms take keen interests in establishing educational institutions not to enlighten the society but for profits. At the beginning of every new academic session, media houses are wadded with advertisements of numerous institutions featuring their buildings, classrooms, laboratories and so on to lure the students. The outcome of such commercials is abnormal hike in admission and monthly tuition fees.
As far as Manipur is concerned, people have almost lost faith in the government schools. Even those government schools which once pioneered education in the state are now on sharp decline. The government schools are almost defunct though crores of rupees are being spent for the implementation of schemes like SSA and RMSA. In such a scenario, students irrespective of their financial backgrounds are being enrolled in private schools spread all over the entire state. The performance of these private schools is quite commendable as it is evident from the results of Board examinations. However, there seems to be a division amongst students on the basis of school fees. Some private schools charge much higher school fees on the ground that they have well-developed infrastructures. This non-uniform fee structure in private schools has been a factor for discrimination amongst students.
The recent decision of AMSU with regard to maintaining uniform fee structure for all private schools in the state must be welcomed by all. This will help in ushering into a new era of education. Students would not mind the differences whether they study in schools with good infrastructures or not. After all sincerity and efficiency of teachers drive the schools forward and not simply because of the infrastructures. In one way, uniform fee structure will give equal opportunities to students to have quality education without any discrimination. The students`™ bodies along with the association of private schools should try to implement the proposed fee structure as early as possible.
Here, the government should also encourage the private schools by providing grant-in-aid and other assistances for development of the schools. The education department has wasted enough in the government schools and there is still no sign of revival. The state government should also take the initiative to fix uniform fee structure for the private schools in the state. The education department should not remain as a silent spectator in such crucial matters. The students`™ bodies are indeed the `beacon` of the society. They have done so much beyond their capacities just to bring up the society in so many aspects. Uniform fee structure is a revolutionary step towards ending the differences amongst students. Moreover, this will also be a good lesson to the businessmen who are trying to convert schools into profitable commercial institutions.
The time has come for the general public to realize the reality of the present society. People should be thankful to the almighty that there are still some persons to guide them to the right path. The society has been totally spoilt by the men in power. The future of youths in this state is blurred. The state authorities could not even conduct the civil services examination fairly. It is the students`™ bodies of the state who have raised voices against the corrupt government officials. The people of the state might have been easily misguided if they were no such watchdogs in the society. The future of the state lies in the future of the students. All students must be treated equally and they must be given equal opportunities. Uniform fee structure will somehow remove `division` amongst students. Whether rich or poor, students will get the same opportunity to study in any of the private schools of the state. Discrimination and division will be ultimately be shed off once this policy of uniform fee structure for private schools is implemented in the state.