Imphal, January 20: In a far reaching decision, the State Cabinet today decided to downgrade 15 higher secondary schools to the status of high schools, with the stated objective of rationalising the teachers-students ratio as well transfer and posting of teachers.

A well placed source informed that the schools to be down graded include Azad Hr Sec (which nominated only 5 Arts students for this year's HSSLC exam), Ch Iboyaima Hr Sec (7 Arts), Lamlai Hr Sec (9 Arts), Langmeidong Hr Sec (2 Arts), Mukta Hr Sec (Nil), Mayang Langjing Hr Sec (4 Arts and 3 Sc), Moijin Hr Sec (1 Arts), Nimaichand Hr Sec (6 Arts and 1 Commerce), Phadang Hr Sec (Nil), Somdal NK Hr Sec (8 Arts), Sugnu Hr Sec (1 Arts), Singjamei Girls' Hr Sec (2 Arts), Thanga Hr Sec (3 Arts), Wabagai Hr Sec (5 Sc) and Wangkhei Hr Sec (6 Sc).

Elaborating, the source said that Azad Hr Sec which has sent up only 5 students for the HSSLC exam has 17 teachers including 5 regulars and 12 part timers.

Ditto for Lamlai Hr Sec which has 9 students but 16 teachers including 12 regular and 4 part timers and Moijin which nominated only one student but has 18 teachers including 8 regular and 10 part timers.

The decision of the Cabinet will go a long way in rationalising the students-teachers ratio and the excess teachers can be transferred to schools which are facing shortage of teachers, added the source.

The Cabinet has also decided to go ahead full steam with the Special Self Employment Generation Programme.

The scheme will target 22 thousand educated unemployed youths within the age range of 20 to 45, said the source adding that the Centre has earmarked a sum of Rs 500 crore for the said scheme.

For the first year (ending in March this year), the amount released is Rs 30 crores.

The implementing agency is the Manipur State Co-operative Bank and the scheme will be stretched out to 7 years.

In the first year the scheme will cover 3000 youths while in the second year the target is 7000, third year 5000, fourth year 1000, fifth year 1500, sixth year 2000 and seventh year 2500.The selection will be conducted at the district level and the short listed names will be submitted to the MSCB to study the technical feasibility of the project submitted by the intending beneficiaries.

The MSCB will then refer the matter back to the State Level Committee for the final selection after which the names of the selected beneficiaries will be submitted to the bank again for the financial aid.

The Sewerage Project taken up in co-operation with the French Govt was also discussed during the Cabinet meeting today.

The construction material worth Rs 10 crores has already arrived and is presently kept at the Calcutta docks.

However as the material has been kept there for a long time, the excise duty has jumped to a whooping Rs 25 crores while the damage charge has been pegged at Rs 30 lakhs.

Calcutta docks charges Rs 90,000 per day for keeping the material there.

The Cabinet decided to lift the material as soon as possible as the cost of damages and rental charges have outstripped the value of the material, the State Govt may again approach the French Govt for additional aid, said the source.

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