Education: addressing the core issue
- Imphal Times Editorial :: March 21 2018 -
The BJP-led state government have just observed
the completion of its first year of governance, and while
many critics have already started highlighting loopholes
and drawbacks in its functioning, one cannot deny the
fact that the pace of developmental activities aimed at
improving the lives of the public and increase
convenience, and the perception of transparency in
administration have increased considerably- an important
indicator of the level of trust in the government by the
public.
However
, there remains an area where any attempts
and efforts being prepared and implemented so far
have failed to get anywhere near the desired result or
the predetermined objective- the education sector
.
The
present education scenario in the state can at best be
described as controlled chaos. The makeshift system in
place at present that is prone to changes with the
slightest interference from forces from within and
beyond the socially accepted spheres have led to an air
of uncertainty amongst the students and school
administrators that has ultimately affected the psyche
of the students.
The grand schemes and studied projects
of the government have so far proved to be a dud, but
what is of greater concern is the visibly nonchalant
attitude of the state officials and authorities to the
worsening situation especially with regard to the
functioning and administration of the government run
schools in the state.
It may be mentioned that The
Manipur Private School (Registration and Regulation) Bill,
2017, and Manipur Coaching Institute (Control and
Regulation) Bill, 2017, were passed unanimously during
the last assembly session in a desperate bid on the part
of the state government to curb the mushrooming private
educational institutions which have cropped up due to
the failure of the government educational institutions
to perform their basic duties.
The mad rush for admission to these private schools
have resulted in various unscrupulous elements to take
advantage of the situation and have employed methods
fair and foul for their personal benefits at the cost of
these desperate students and their parents.
And while
the move of the state government is an attempt to
regulate and control the situation, the effort can by no
means be termed as a comprehensive or lasting solution.
On the contrary
, some concerned intellectuals have
expressed dismay at the trajectory of the whole exercise
which is seen as a deviation from the real challenge of
finding a comprehensive and pragmatic solution which
is both sustainable and flexible enough to incorporate
changes with the passage of time.
The fact of the matter is that instead of diverting
resources for slapdash solutions to the worsening
problem, it is time for the state government and its
department to get down and get into the root of the
matter.
Denying the fact that the state run education
system is in total rot is still proving to be the biggest
hurdle to initializing a radical change in the education
sector in the state.
Appreciating the role the private schools are playing
in maintaining a basic level of efficiency and credibility
in education would be a good point to start.
There are
various points and systems that can be emulated and
adapted from these private educational institutions.
Taking them as partners rather than rivals in the new
endeavour would yield better results.
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