Let us make schools better: The current initiative

Yangsorang Rongreisek *

Students appearing for Class X Exam on 04th March 2019 :: Pix - Shankar Khangembam

At the backdrop of School Fagathansi Mission or Let Us Make Schools Better Mission to be launched by the School Education Dept of Manipur as notified a couple of days ago, what is of utmost importance is first to focus on schooling and learning. In the initiative, sixty govt high schools have been selected for implementation of the mission.

It is said that highly qualified teachers will be deployed in these high schools. And in recent times, there has been much emphasis---and rightly so - on the distinction between schooling and learning in education in Manipur. Schooling does not translate into learning. The number of years of schooling, in this case, fails to be an effective indicator of learning.

The problem is particularly severe in the state still struggling to get all children enrolled in govt schools. In the bid to get children into govt schools, the school education dept has focused a lot on enrolments and not enough on quality of learning and teaching. Poor learning outcomes have been known for a long time.

The school education dept has been documenting these poor outcomes of students for years. But the state attention on the issue of quality of education and learning has been more recent. There are a number of questions that crop up. As the sixty high schools are going to get ample opportunities to revamp their school structures, cases of the remaining high schools ought to be looked into.

Was the High School Leaving Certificate Examination (HSLCE), 2018 result only for a blip, or are we going to see a trend in improved learning outcomes? What about the sudden rise of some of the govt high schools in the HSLCE, 2019 after school teachers across the length and breadth of the state had been blamed very often for poor performances of govt schools in Manipur?

At a time when many a high school in the state has shortage of teaching and non-teaching staff, there has been tremendous improvement of Govt High Schools in the HSLCE conducted in 2019 as forty-five Govt high schools recorded good pass percentage compared to that of 2017 and 2018.

In defence of Govt high schools in Manipur:

The data prepared by the Board of Secondary Education, Manipur on the school-wise pass percentage for H.S.L.C.Examination, 2019 shows impressive gains in learning. Schools which have performed well in the examination are

(1) Azad High School, Yairipok that sent up 84 candidates for the HSLCE, 2019. Out of which, 82 candidates passed the examn with 27 first divisioners and 55 Second divisioners.
(2) Bishnulal High School, Kangpokpi District sent up 50 candidates, out of which 47 passed the examn in the said examn with 8 first divisioners and 37 second divisioners.
(3) All the 21 candidates of Chamu High School, Ukhrul cleared the examination in 1st and 2nd divisions.
(4) Of the 33 candidates sent up by the Eastern Christian High Schools, Ukhrul District, 25 of them passed in 1st division with 8 second divisioners.
(5) All the candidates sent up by the Eklavya Model Residential Schools under the category of Govt schools in Manipur cleared the HSLCE, 2019 in flying colours.

(6) In the case of Eklavya Model Residential School, Gamnom, Kangpokpi District, all the 22 candidates passed in 1st Division.
(7) The performance of Kakching Khunou HS, Kakching District is not bad. Out of 23 candidates, 21 passed the examn in 1st and 2nd division.
(8) Kalhang Kuirei HS, Kuirei, Ukhrul District also sent up 23 candidates in the examn and 15 of them passed in 1st division with 6 2nd divisioners.
(9) For Kamjong High School, Kamjong District out of 87, 85 passed the said examn with 27 in 1st division and 56 in 2nd division.
(10) Kangpokpi Hr.Secondary School's pass percentage is 50.72.

(11) Kasom Khullen HS, Kamjong District sent up 46 candidates in the examn and 22 of them passed in 1st division with 18 2nd divisioners.
(12) Keishamthong High School, IW sent up 37 candidates, 13 of them passed in 1st division with 17 2nd divisioners.
(13) Out of 110 candidates of Keithelmanbi HS, Kangpokpi District, 8 candidates passed in 1st division with 57 in 2nd division.
(14) All the 22 candidates of Khamasom HS, Ukhrul District passed in 1st and 2nd divisions.
(15) Khangabok Hr. Secondary School, Thoubal District sent up 84 candidates and 62 passed in 1st and 2nd divisions.

(16) Khurai Popular HS, Imphal East District sent up 29 candidates and all of them passed in 1st and 2nd divisions.
(17) Lairikyengbam Leikai HS, Imphal East District also did well in the examn when its 27 candidates passed in 1st and 2nd divisions.
(18) Langmei Hr.Secondary School, Tamenglong District recorded pass percentage of 78%.
(19) Liwachangning HS, Chandel District's pass percentage is 88.89 when its 35 candidates passed in 1st division and 29 in 2nd division.
(20) Maha Union HS, Chandel District's performance is encouraging when its 11 candidates passed in 1st and 44 in 2nd division.

(21) Moijing HS, Thoubal District sent up 25 candidates and 17 of them passed in 1st and 2nd divisions.
(22) What is more encouraging is that Moirangpurel HS, Imphal East District sent up 74 candidates in the said examination. 73 of them passed in 1st division except 1 passed in 2nd division.
(23) New Ideal HS, Thoubal District also recorded 65.08 %.
(24) The candidates of Ningthoukhong Hr.Sec.School, Bishnupur District also recorded cent percent pass with 46 1st divisioners and 25 2nd divisioners.
(25) The candidates of Nungba HS, Noney District recorded a pass percentage of 80 when its 29 candidates passed in 1st division and 43 in 2nd division.

(26) Out of 32 candidates of Paocham HS, Ukhrul District, 18 of them passed in 1st division and 9 candidates in 2nd division.
(27) 58 candidates of Paoyi HS, Ukhrul District also passed in 1st division and 30 in 2nd division, pass percentage being 88%.
(28) Phadang High School, Ukhrul District recorded pass percentage of 48.57.
(29) Phuba HS, Senapati District achieved pass percentage of 64.52.
(30) Phundrei HS, Thoubal District recorded pass percentage of 83.08 with 25 1st divisioners and 27 2nd divisioners.

(31) Poirou Khongjin HS, Yairipok sent up 37 candidates, out of which 23 candidates passed in 1st division and 11 in 2nd division.
(32) Purul Hr. Secondary. School, Senapati District sent up 32 candidates and 30 of them passed the HSLCE, 2019 with 10 1st divisioners and 20 2nd divisioners.
(33) Sanakeithel Chingshang HS, Ukhrul District sent up 65 candidates, out of which, 34 candidates passed the examn in 1st division and 26 candidates in 2nd division.
(34) 20 candidates of Sagang Hr. Sec. School, Ccpur District passed the examn in 1st division and 43 candidates in 2nd division.
(35) Sawombung HS, Imphal East recorded pass percentage of 73.42 with 28 1st divisioners and 27 2nd divisioners.

(36) Senvon HS, Pherzawl District recorded pass percentage of 79.17 with 2 1st divisioners and 17 2nd divisioners.
(37) Lamding Hr.Sec. School, Thoubal District did well in the said examination when its 18 candidates passed in the examn 1st division and 30 of them in 2nd division.
(38) Thoudam Leishangthem HS, Thoubal District sent up 22 candidates and 10 candidates passed the examn in 1st and 10 in 2nd divisions.
(39) Wangkhei Model HS, Imphal East District sent up 62 candidates and 37 of them passed the examn in 1st divisions and 16 in 2nd divisions.
(40) Wangoo HS, Bishnupur District sent up 111 candidates and 36 of them passed the examn in 1st divisions and 49 in 2nd divisions.

(41) Yumnam Huidrom High School, Imphal West-II also recorded pass percentage of 68.57 with 15 1st divisioners and 29 2nd divisioners.
(42) Out of 50 candidates of Model HS, Ukhrul, 21 of them passed the examn.
(43) All the 15 candidates of Oinam Hill HS, Senapati District passed the examn, 9 of them in 1st division and 6 in 2nd division.
(44) Tongou HS, Ukhrul District sent up 27 candidates, 17 of them passed the examn in 1st division and 3 in 2nd division.
(45) And 6 candidates of Vumhao HS, Ccpur district passed the examn in 1st division with 22 2nd divisioners.

Well, we will have to wait for 2020 results to find out whether the trend continues or is maintained. However, some high schools of both the hill and valley districts are showing small gains, no gain or even some poorer results. The dept has to ensure that schools that are lagging behind - and are at the risk of being left behind even more are highlighted with extra effort put into these schools over the next few years.

Yet, there seem to be significant improvements on a number of measures in govt high schools in Manipur. Infrastructure has improved a lot, the provision of basic amenities has improved, and teacher attendance and availability has become better. Many high schools are even seeing higher enrolments. Though the gap in learning outcomes between children going to private or elite schools and govt schools continues, the gap is set to narrow down.

What is driving the improvements in learning outcomes? This would, of course, be the main question. Over the past 5 to 8 years, a lot of reforms have been implemented in education sector. Are these reforms beginning to pay off? The state govt have raised teacher numbers, raised entry requirements for teachers (to at least Bachelor's level though most of new teachers have a Master's degree), improved their salaries and grades, and increased their monitoring substantially.

The state has improved school infrastructure to a great extent. The state has already started to provide some funding directly to schools under RMSA and SSA Schemes so that they can work on and implement their own school improvement plans - and the state has also provided more support to headmasters and teachers by way of interaction. Earlier it was not so.

Here, monthly district level reviews should be institutionalised as a way of keeping an eye on school performances. Regular higher-level review meetings will have to be convened for weaker schools as a means of introducing tighter accountability. But, at some point, we will have to do careful work to figure out what is working and how it is working.

Scores of stakeholders may argue that the gains that have been made are still small that we need to improve learning outcomes of pupils at a faster rate, and whether these gains are indicative of a trend or not has to be scrutinised.

All of these are important points but it is also exciting to see learning improvements after quite some time and in some cases, quite large gains. The BJP led Govt in the state have also made a lot of promises to improve school education even further. School Fagathansi Mission is a new deal on education. This will give a nice platform for this govt to move forward but a lot of groundwork is there to build on.

Hopefully, the focus will remain on learning outcomes now and for all children of the state when parents of low income group have been running from pillar to post for their children's schooling for decades.

Till the 1970s, a decent education was not necessarily expensive - mostly because all education was in the domain of govt schools in Manipur. 109 aided high schools which were taken over by the state govt on 5.8.78 served as the main enrolling avenues for a majority of students in Manipur.

In the late 70s, this writer came in close contact with three headmasters of repute namely Shri Indra Dev Joshi of the erstwhile Adimjati HS, Imphal, Shri Iboton Roy of Lilasingkhongnangkhong HS, Imphal and Shri Nongmaithem Chaoba Singh of S.K. Ideal HS, Ngairangbam in Imphal West.

The three educators of modern Manipur created fantastic academic atmospheres in their respective school premises by making schools better places for pupils to enjoy their childhood and learn manners with the introduction of extracurricular activities for them to relax from heavy academic pressures. They worked overtime devoting to teaching as well as office works.

Shri Iboton Roy taught Mechanics and two of them taught English. They were regular in their attendance. Their relation with their colleagues was also always cordial. During their time, their schools produced quite a large number of meritorious students. Such was the hallmark of a high school in those days. Such was the charm visible in each high school of the three headmasters. Lamentable, indeed!

Afterwards, private school chains began to dot the landscape of Imphal city and its surrounding villages followed by hill district headquarters gradually. Elite private schools had grown because the state had abandoned the children of the poor. The result was that parents did not really have a choice in the situation but to send their children to private schools.

The quality of govt school education in Manipur took a nosedive as the effect of mass recruitment of teachers under political patronage began to destroy classrooms from 1982 onwards. Parents felt no loyalty towards low quality govt schools. They knew that no amount of raising their voice would work so they simply went on to send their wards to private English schools which were assumed to be superior in many respects. Precariously, Govt high schools began to decline bit by bit. It all started around 1982.

With the School Fagathansi Mission to be launched this time, it has to be pointed out that together with technology, teachers can make schools better with engineering trends in the educational sector. The growth of technology favourably provides a grip of modern education. Technology makes teaching and learning more significant and enjoyable.

Efficient technology could replace most of the outdated classroom tools and enhance the efficiency of students and increase their quality time. Teachers can easily utilize the advanced technological assets by the modern community to enlighten each learner. Education technology increases the productivity of schools. It narrows the inequalities and discriminations in the sector.

It simplifies all the irregularities and difficulties for school management and aids in promoting learner achievements. Studies show that schools and campuses which have more education technology assets perform better compared to others. Visualization of topics and interactive sessions should be introduced to improve enthusiasm and passion in learners.

Virtual reality can bring a lot of the best in the field of education. From giving a clear-cut idea on lessons to practical sessions, virtual reality can handle everything with much ease for smart classes.

With the help of the internet, everyone can learn or teach from anywhere and everywhere in the modern day school education. Effective communication is the pathway to establishing and maintaining student-teacher relation.

But then--are all these feasible for a cash starved state like Manipur? Alas! Everything depends upon availability of fund for gadgets, tools and electricity backed up by commitment and political will of men at the helms of the affairs of the state for the success of the MISSION. All the best!