JIRIBAM, December 2: Four students’ bodies of Jiribam have announced that they will resume their agitation from next December 4 if the concerned authorities fail to carry out the assurances provided to them on issues pertaining to the sub-division by December 3.
Their movement will be resumed by shutting down government offices of Jiribam along with the Zonal Education Office of Jiribam, leaders of the students’ groups told media persons.
Addressing a press conference at the office of the All Manipur Students’ Union, Jiribam on Sunday, spokespersons of the students’ bodies said that on October 25 last, they met with the authorities of the Department of Education (S) in the office chamber of the minister M Okendro Singh and discussed their demands for filling up the shortage of teachers at Jiribam.
The minister had assured them on fulfillment of their demands, they echoed.
Later on November 18, 2013, based on their demands, the department of Education (S) put up an order posting 31 teachers at Jiribam, whereas till today only two teachers has joined to their respective postings at Jiribam.
It may be mentioned that the movement of the four students’ bodies of Jiribam, namely AMSU-District committee, MSF Special Branch, DESAM Local Council and KSA-Jiribam unit, had been suspended following assurances of the concerned authorities to look into their demands.
The students’ bodies have further appealed to the authorities of Education (S) department to take up necessary actions against the teachers, who are yet to join their respective posting. If their demand is not fulfilled according to Memorandum of Understanding, signed between the student bodies of Jiribam (AMSU, MSF, DESAM, KSA) and representatives of the government within December 3, 2013, then the student bodies will resume their agitation from the next day, the student spokespersons said.
Further elaborating on the line of agitation to be carried further, they said that if in case the concerned authorities failed to send the teachers to their respective postings at the sub-division, the student bodies will demand the department to appoint teachers from the sub-division itself according to their Teachers Eligibility Test result.
The students’ bodies leaders also said that according to the signed Memorandum of Understanding, the state Education minister had assured the students of the sub-division that the appointment of additional contract lecturers for Jiribam Higher
Secondary School will be completed within the month of December, and preference will be given to local candidates.
However, there are still no positive sign on the assurances, they rued.
They further appealed to the teachers of Jiribam to be regular in attending their respective posting schools and to give up the policy of keeping substitute teachers by sharing their salaries.
Lastly, the students’ bodies appealed to the local MLA of Jiribam to take the initiative in settling the issues of Jiribam.