IMPHAL, July 5: Alarmed by the ever increasing instances of disturbances created to the educational atmosphere in the state by the numerous bandhs, blockades and monetary demand related threats from armed outfits, the Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur today organized simultaneous mass rallies in several districts of the state demanding for a “Disturbance free educational zone”.
The rallies were taken out at Imphal West and East, Thoubal and Bishnupur districts today.
Meanwhile, according to the Newmai News Network, the All Tribal Students’ Union, Manipur has also lauded the DESAM demonstration.
The Imphal rally was flagged off by Education (S) Director H Dileep Singh from Thangmeiband Athletic Union, THAU. Student volunteers numbering in the thousands passed through Khuyathong, DM College Southern Gate, North AOC, CHingmeirong Khongnang Ani Karak and after passing along Dingku Road concluded inside the Khuman lampak Main Stadium.
The student volunteers came from government schools, private schools, and schools affiliated to CBSE board.
Placards held during the rally included “Make education a free zone”, “Stop bandh, blockade; exempt education related persons from any bandh, blockade”, “Stop pressurising officials of education institutes and department by armed individuals/groups”, “increase education budget to develop education sector”, “Avoid corruption in all education related matters”, etc.
Addressing a mammoth gathering of students and teachers at the Khuman Lampak Main Stadium at the end of the rally, DESAM president, W Islauddin appealed to all concerned to stop threatening the educational environment in the state.
Appealing to all against disturbing the educational institutes with monetary demands, bandhs and blockades, he further urged all against using threatening the education institutes with bomb threats and kidnapping.
He further urged all not to make education a money earning business.
Both state and non-state actors should stop from using students as pawns of their respective political aspirations, he said.
He stated that even though the present government which is about to complete three terms has been shouting for improvement in the education sector in the state, none has been witnessed so far.
Prof Jodhchandra Sanasam, President of the Patriotic Writers Forum addressing the gathering said, several unwanted incidents continue to affect education in the state. Keeping to the theme of the rally, he appealed to all not to disturb education in the state.
Salam Yaima, Co-ordinator, CBSE Monitoring Cell, Manipur said the state receives huge fundings for education, however, the funds are not utilised properly in the state.
Meanwhile, a similar student rally at Bishnupur congregated at Yangoi Ningthou Community hall, Bishnupur bazaar.
The Deputy Commissioner of Thoubal district, T Ranjit Singh had flagged off the mass rally at 11:00 am from Chaoyaima Higher Secondary School, Thoubal. The rally concluded at Basu ground, Khangabok with a public meeting and took several resolutions for the betterment of education in the state.
During a meeting after the end of the rally, Potshangbam Dhanakumar Singh, Chairman of the Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BOSEM) appealed to the public gathering to stop proliferation of private schools.
He further elaborated that the students’ organisation has been voicing for making education a free zone since the last 2/3 years by avoiding disturbance to education while saying that the Board and Council has a target of 210 working days in an academic year but there is hardly 150 working days since the last 30 years.
Besides these 150 days could not be utilized due to many reasons thereby imposing pressures on the teaching learning process which compels teachers to only complete syllabus without considering the limitations imposed on students.
Furthering his deliverance in the public meeting, P Dhanakumar Singh termed the present education system as colonization of knowledge by citing the example of imposing rhyme learning for which the Supreme Court of India has asked to have a rectification.
Newmai News Network adds: The All Tribal Students Union, Manipur (ATSUM) has lauded today`s protest rally of students organised by the Democratic Students Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) demanding “to make education a `free zone”.”The move of DESAM is timely, laudable and genuine case,” said ATSUM president Muan Tombing and its general secretary Vareiyo Shatsang.ATSUM said it fully gave moral support to the DESAM rally today and said, “Irrespective of geographical matter, ethnic groups, valley and hills, education should be made a free zone and no one should disturb the functioning of educational institutions.”