IMPHAL, June 10: Manipur has become a state which has the largest number of students learning in private run schools as compared to other states in the country and education sector has been turned into a big business market.
This was stated by Dr Chinglen Meisnam of Manipur University at the 8th Conference of Students’ Federation of India (SFI) at the Youth Hostel Hall, Khuman Lampak here on Sunday.
Prof Ksh Bimola, Dean of Social Sciences of Manipur University, Ritabrata Banerjee, general secretary of SFI attended the conference as chief guest and special guest.
While Chinglen Meisnam, Assistant Professor of Manipur University, Sarat Salam, founder president of SFI/MSC, Y Romola Devi, president of AMDWA, S Roma Devi, secretary of DYFI/MSC, Salam Pari Luwang, secretary of SFI/MSC and Md Zakir Ali, vice president of SFI/MSC took part as presidium members at the conference.
Prof Chinglen said Manipur has become a state which has the largest number of students learning in private run schools and that education sector in the state has been changed into a big business market.
The professor also stressed that student organizations should focus mainly on education sector while noting that around 71 per cent of students in rural areas in the state are studying in private schools and only 26 per cent in government schools.
All the government schools have only 1.6 per cent of library facility and 65 per cent of these schools have no proper latrine facilities and at the same time, 93.3 per cent of them do not have safe drinking water facility, Chinglen remarked.
He also said 94 per cent of the government schools are not provided with computer facility. Churachandpur district has the highest number of students learning in private schools comparing to other districts.
Surprisingly, the current education budget for the neighbouring state of Tripura is Rs 1900 crore where it has been fixed at Rs 741 crore in respect of Manipur, the professor said.