IMPHAL, June 19: Students and teachers of Ramlal Paul Higher Secondary School today held a meeting along with representatives of several students’ unions of the state and the All Manipur Students’ Parents’ Guardian Organization decrying the recent decision of the government to convert the school into a girls higher secondary school to accommodate students who cannot gain admission in TG Girls’ Higher Secondary School.
The meeting was held at the Ramlal Paul Higher Secondary School.
Speaking at the meeting, the All Manipur Students’ Parents’ Guardian Organization secretary S Sumati said that the system of the government for turning the Ramlal Paul Higher Secondary School into an all-girls school is inappropriate and both the students and the teachers are dissatisfied with the government decision.
The students, teachers and all concerned would have been happy if the government had decided to improve the school, but instead, the government has decided to change the school into a girls’ school by transferring the students of the school to another school, which is highly condemnable, she said.
She further condemned the government for taking a decision without any second thought, and continued that the government acts only after an issue arises and tries only to solve the issue for a short term and escape from the situation.
Speaking to media persons, a member of a student`s union said the government should cancel the decision of converting the school into an all girls’ school or the government should convert it into a co-educational higher secondary school.
He said the transferring of the students should not happen as they will find difficulties to cope up with the other students’ because the academic session has already started.
Teachers, students, founder members, the school Principal and former Principal of the school also participated in the meeting.
The Ramlal Paul Higher Secondary School Students’ Union has in a press release said that the meeting attended by the members of the All Manipur Guardian Association, leaders of its students’ unions, ex-teachers, ex-students, local clubs etc and made resolutions unanimously to oppose the government’s proposal, to make Ramlal Paul Hr Sec School an extension campus for TG Hr Sec School; to request the government of Manipur to revoke the order regarding Ramlal Paul school; to protect and uphold the tradition and culture of Ramlal Paul school; to urge the government of Manipur to give a chance to the school management committee for improvement while asking the government to make an effort for development; to urge government of Manipur to upgrade Ramlal Paul school as a model school; to constitute school management committee (SMC) comprising of ex-teachers, local clubs, ex students etc; to urge the government to look into the grievances of students reading in class VI-X which is a very important period in students’ life; to organise a mass movement for its protection.
The press release has also enclosed a statement from the family of the school founders singed by Krishnadas Paul and Gopinath Paul, the grandsons of the founder Damudar Paul and Chourajit Paul mentioning it history of the school which was founded in the year 1933 as a boys school.
It further said that the signatories appreciated the government plan and attention to develop the school but it was not acceptable to transform a boys’ school to a girl`s only school as the move is against the spirit and wishes of the school founders and those teachers who have sacrificed all their life for the school.