KANGPOKPI, December 3: Kuki Students’ Organization, GHQ and All Naga Students’ Association Manipur (ANSAM) have jointly resisted today the Manipur Government decision to remove Additional English in the scheme of study at IX and X standards under Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BOSEM).
In connection with the government decision the two student apex bodies along with the representatives of all the Private Schools Associations based in the five Hill districts had a joint meeting today and discussed the problems and challenges faced by the students’ community in the Hills districts after the new order from the State Board removing Additional English said a joint press communiqué signed by Seiboi Haokip, general secretary, KSO-GHQ and James Inka, asst gen secretary, ANSAM.
The two student bodies said that the government decision is nothing but a deliberate attempt to curb equal opportunity and freedom to pursue one’s own choice of language to study while adding that it put the tribal population in a disadvantageous position as unlike Manipuri language which received benevolent support from the State, none of the Tribal languages whether recognized or unrecognized have even basic support to advance their own literature.
It also recalled that ANSAM had approached the concerned authority and the State government to take immediate action and submitted a memorandum to the State Education minister, M Okendro Singh in November for revocation of the aforementioned order after organizing a wide discussion with parents, effected students both in Hill and Valley based schools, experts in the field and concerned teachers.
However, despite the urgency of the matter and thousands of students career at stake the Government have choose to remain silent, it further added.
The two student bodies also alleged that the decision of the Government ignores the social fabric of the State which is home to a large number of linguistically diverse social groups.
“It is a fact that only few tribal languages are recognized in the State Education Board, thus students belonging to the smaller tribes will face huge problem to pursue higher education”, KSO and ANSAM said while warning that the two student bodies will stand firm against undemocratic decision of the State Government.
It also said that the State Education Board has placed coming December 16 as the last date for submission of the upcoming examination form for X Standard in the State. However, since the State Government has not taken any steps in regards to the concerns of the Tribal student in the State, the students’ associations have communicated to all the Principals of the schools based in Hill Districts not to summit the examination forms.
The two student bodies also warn that going against the directive of the Students’ bodies will not be tolerated and dealt with severely.