Imphal, October 17: Giving yet another twist to the demand raised to affiliate private schools in the hills of Manipur to the Nagaland Board of Secondary Education, matter has come light that Outer Manipur Parliamentary MP, Mani Charenamei had written to the Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil as well as to the Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes that the BSEM is harassing the Naga community in Manipur.

Following the written submission sent by the MP, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes has written to the BSEM seeking relevant information within 30 days time.

The message was sent in the middle week of September.

Disclosing this to The Sangai Express a well placed source said that the MP had written to the NCST that ANSAM and Naga Students' Federation had rejected the books prescribed by the BSEM as the education system in Manipur had never been in the interest of the tribal communities, including the Nagas.

Another source informed that the relevant information has been sent to the NCST by the BSEM authority negating the charges levelled by the MP.

Apart from alleging that the education system in Manipur has undermined the interest of the tribal communities, the MP in his message also took pains to explain, "The Naga students of Manipur, though separated by the imposed State boundaries have found the syllabus prescribed by the Nagaland Board of Secondary Education very friendly, owing to ethnic affinity, cultural and historical oneness.

On many counts, the NBSE syllabus has been found learning friendly, the text books cover relevant topics pertaining to the history, social and cultural life of the Nagas." The Outer Manipur Parliamentary MP further argued "On the other hand, the syllabus prescribed by the BOSEM is too taxing and too tough for the poor and facilities starved tribal students of Manipur.

To get through Science and Mathematics tests are the biggest hurdles for the poor tribal boys and girls and this also have been the main factor for the rise in the number of school drop outs among the tribal communities." The MP further accused the BOSEM of imposing Meitei language and Meitei script on the tribals and added that this is a policy to assimilate the minority communities into the culture of the majority community at the cost of their distinct identity, culture and languages.

The Government of Manipur has also banned schools from seeking affiliation to CBSE and ICSE, said the MP and added that this is a violation of the rights of the tribals.