IMPHAL, Jan 28: Chief Minister N Biren today announced a cash reward of Rs five lakh in case a Government school student can secure first position in the High School Leaving Certificate Exami-nation conducted by BOSEM or Higher Secondary Exami-nation conducted COHSEM.
He was speaking at a blessing ceremony of students who would appear this year’s HSLC Exam and higher secondary exam.
Speaking at the function held at Hapta Kangjeibung, Palace Compound, Biren announced cash rewards to Government school students at the rates of Rs 5 lakh for 1st position, Rs 4 lakh for second position, Rs 3 lakh for third position and Rs 1 lakh each for 4th to 25th position.
District-wise toppers among Government schools would be given cash rewards of Rs one lakh while the second best would be given Rs 50,000.
Biren stated that education is the solution to all problems.
“We are backward today because our level of education is not high enough”, the Chief Minister remarked.
A well educated person is neither selfish nor mean mean-minded nor malicious. On the other hand, they work for the welfare of the society, Biren continued.
The State’s education system, where securing a Government job is the ultimate objective, is outdated. The system needs a serious re-thinking, Biren said.
Saying that the Government’s first priority is to appoint only the qualified individuals to the post of teachers, the Chief Minister informed that the Government has been considering about setting up a recruitment board/commission in the line of the Staff Selection Commission to monitor the process of recruitment to Grade III and Grade IV posts and check graft practices.
The Government has already announced that there would be no interviews in the process of recruitment to Grade III and Grade IV posts.
There are many dedicated and qualified teachers in Government schools. But the rampant graft practices and lobbying at the time of promotion and other service matters have demoralised the dedicated teacher, Biren said.
He also assured that the Government would take up all necessary measures to ensure that dedicated and qualified teachers are not demoralised. Teachers can now apply for GPF and withdraw the same amount online.
Declaring that a website would be launched on February 1 for the welfare of Manipuri students studying outside the State, Biren stated that all the students studying outside the State would be registered at the website and all their details such as the places where they have been staying and names of their institutes would be uploaded on the website.
This would help the Government take up necessary measures for their safety and protection. In case any student from the State dies outside the State, the Government would provide ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh and those who sustain critical injuries would be given Rs 50,000 each, the Chief Minister announced.
He also wished best of luck to all the students who are set to appear for the HSLC and higher secondary exams.
Education Minister Th Radheshyam said that education is a panacea to all problems. The society can progress only when all the people are educated.
Apart from school uniforms, shoes would be given to Government school students reading in classes I to V free of cost from this academic year onward, Radheshyam announced.
Pledging that he would translate the same announcement into action regardless of whether the Government has money or not, the Education Minister declared that he would donate one month’s salary towards buying shoes for students.
He said that teachers would contribute Rs 500 each for purchasing shoes while whatever amount which fall short would be met by the Chief Minister.
The blessing ceremony was participated by a huge number of teachers and students who came from different districts and zones.
Later, the Chief Minister administered an oath to the gathering declaring that they would work with dedication for the welfare of the society and future generations.
Source: thesangaiexpress.com