Students central to MU issue : Bad ambience for education
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: September 08 2018 -

The number one priority is obviously to restore normalcy at Manipur University.

As things stand right now, that normalcy seems attainable only when some punitive action is taken up against VC AP Pandey.

Even as the probe panel has started the inquiry into the allegations raised against the VC, let it be clear that central to what is happening at MU is the future of the students.

Lose sight of this and one may well question what the agitation was all about, if not for the sake of the future of the students.

This point should not blow over the consciousness of anyone.

And when one talks about students, it becomes necessary to go beyond what is happening at MU and sincerely question whether the right ambience has been created for students to pursue their academics or not.

This question should prick the conscience of everyone, particularly those who are in the profession of teaching and the parents and guardians of the young students.

This is not the first time that The Sangai Express is commenting on this topic and this will not be the last either.

For starters why do so many students from Manipur move outside the State once they finish their Class XII ?

This is a question which the teaching community should have raised a long time back.

At the same time it is also important for all the power players in the State to question themselves whether the right atmosphere has been created for the students to pursue their academics without any disturbances.

This question too should prick the conscience of the numerous student organisations in the State.

The situation is pathetic.

Looking for better opportunities is fine and should be encouraged, but when situation comes to such a pass that parents and elders of the family deem it necessary to look outside the State for their young children once they finish schooling, then it is time to take one step back and sincerely survey the reality and study who is or are responsible for creating such a situation that many feel it necessary to send their children outside the State for their higher studies.

This says something profound about what passes off as education here at the college level and beyond.

Situation cannot and should not be allowed to carry on like this forever.

As stated many times in this column earlier, for the moneyed class sending their children outside for their higher studies may not be much of a problem, but not all parents are rich but yet many feel that it is compulsorily important to send their children outside to have a better prospect for their future.

Everyone has a responsibility to create the right ambience for the young students, particularly those in the profession of teaching, the student organisations, the different power players or pressure groups.

For starters a blunt question may be raised and that is why do so many of the teachers here send their children outside the State to study ?

Isn’t this some sort of an admission that for their children to have a better prospect, the right atmosphere has not been created here ?