IMPHAL, July 13: In the backdrop of the indefinite closure of all educational institutions in Greater Imphal area by an order of the government in view of the volatile law & order situation following the death of a student while taking part in an agitation demanding introduction of Inner Line Permit System in the state, Education Department convened a joint meeting today and decided to re-open educational institutions at the earliest.
The meeting which was held at the Conference Hall of SSA, State Mission Authority at Babupara with Education minister Moirangthem Okendro in the chair resolved to resume class in the educational institutions from July 16 if there is considerable improvement in the prevailing tense situation within the one/two days.
The meeting also discussed to tight security deployment around the educational institutions so that agitators could not easily call out students from their schools and colleges to take part in agitations.
High officials of School Education and Higher Education; principals of schools and colleges based in Imphal area; representatives of Manipur University, DESAM, MSF, KSA and several other students`™ organizations also attended the meeting.
Minister Okendro said that the death of a student of Ananda Singh Higher Secondary Academy, Sapam Robinhood during a protest staged demanding ILPS implementation on July 8 was unfortunate.
He further said that he also felt pity to see police beating students during protest demonstrations.
There is a high possibility of outbreak of untoward incidents if normal class in the educational institutions are resumed amidst the tense law & order situation, he said.
The government is confident that there would be a positive change in the situation within one/two days, he added.
Secretary of Education (S) H Deleep Singh who was present at the meeting admitted that the education sector is badly affected whenever intense agitation is launched and appealed to all concerned organizations to not use students in staging protest for fulfilling any demands.
Professor of Manipur University W Nabakumar said that students have been badly hit by the indefinite curfew imposition which was obvious in view of the volatile law and order situation.
Stating that education for students should not be deprived at any cost, he said that the rate of student attending class will be low if the government announces resumption of normal class in the educational institutions from tomorrow or day after tomorrow given that the JCILPS has imposed a 14-hour general strike tomorrow in pursuance of its demand.
It will be a wise step for the government to wait announcement of resumption of class in the educational institutions till the end of the proposed emergency session of Manipur Legislative Assembly on July 15, he observed.
Noting that participation of students in mass agitation to press for any legitimate demand is well justified as history suggests, advisor of DESAM LC Santosh expressed desire for resumption of normal class in the educational institutions from tomorrow in the interest of the students.
He also asked what steps have the government taken up against the police personnel involved in the killing of Robinhood.
Principal of Ananda Singh Higher Secondary Academy Sumati narrated that Robinhood along with other students of the academy was called out by two individuals to join the protest demonstration demanding ILPS implementation in the State.
Expressing unhappiness on the act of letting innocent students to join protest demonstration for whatsoever, the principal termed late Robinhood as a student who dreamt of a bright career.
Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/govt-mulls-reopening-of-schools-colleges-from-jul-16/