IMPHAL, January 23: Chief minister O Ibobi today launched a training programme for more than 7000 teachers at a function held at the Main Auditorium Hall of Manipur Film Development Corporation, Palace Gate.
At the function O Ibobi who was the chief guest said the basic qualifications which all the elementary teachers should possess as per Right to Education Act was passed by the Parliament in 2009.
He said that the children should have free and compulsory education in India under the Right to Education. There are many facilities provided by the government of India like the schemes related to SSA, RAMSA etc, he added.
More than 7000 teachers have been recruited from 2001 till now, many of them under school education, many of them with BEd qualifications, he stated.
The SCERT along with IGNOU under an MOU signed with the central government has given chances for training to them along with monetary incentives of Rs 12,000, he added.
The teachers are undergoing training under Open Distance Learning (ODL) study from their homes. If the teacher fails to achieve 80 percent at the exams, how the people will have confidence on them teaching their wards, he stated.
Chief minister agreed that the recruitment of teachers without experience is wrong but this problem is not limited to Manipur, he stated. He made an appeal that the training should not be a failure like in the case of Bihar.
We should be proud if the target for 2015 is successful as the 7000 trained teachers are experts and well-trained in the education sector, he stated.
Reacting on the recent Teacher’s Day observation where none of the students of government schools were conferred with meritorious awards, he said it was big insult for the government schools. The budget of the education department and the expenditure of salary are very huge, he asserted.
He added that he had asked the Education Minister on the regularisation of government teachers. He stated that the numbers of teachers belonging to the higher secondary schools are 700 while those for the aided colleges have not been accounted for.
Education minister M Okendro in his presidential speech stated that there are 7152 untrained teachers recruited from September 12, 2001 who had to undergo trainings; among them 3177 teachers are from elementary teachers under education (S) and 3975 elementary teachers under tribal affairs and hills. The teachers are required to undergo the training in collaboration with IGNOU and SCERT.
The budget of this training of Rs 7.90 crore has been sanctioned by the HRD Government of India. For the first phase about Rs 3.24 crore has been given to us for teaching learning and others kids, he stated.
He added that there are eight DIET centres for Imphal East and the foundation stone for another will be laid at DM College from the coming session.
In the key note address P Vaiphei, Commissioner higher education and SCERT said that during the first phase 2700 teachers will be trained. The remaining will be given training in second phase and the process will be completed within 2015.
During the launching function Ng Bijoy, MLA Khurai; D Karungthang MLA Tengnoupal, Vungzagin Valte, MLA Thanlon; J Sureshbabu, Principle secretary Education; SK Dev Bharman Principle Secretary TA and Hills; Sushma Yadav Pro- Vice Chancellor IGNOU New Delhi were present as guests of honour. The programme was organised by Department of SCERT Education (S) and Tribal Affairs and Hills and SSA State Mission Authority, Manipur.