Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 09 2010:
Confusion reigns in the mind of the teachers and parents/guardians of the students studying in schools under Zonal Education office, Zone-IV in Bishnupur district which have been abolished by the Directorate of Education (S) .
The abolished schools are supposed to merge with other schools to ensure continuation of the studies of students in the abolished schools.
However, after Commissioner of Education (S) PK Singh issued an order abolishing some of the schools, there has been no follow up order with regard to merger of the abolished schools with other schools, thereby causing confusion and apprehension in the minds of the teachers and parents/guardians alike.
For instance, after their school was aboloished, Leimapokpam Primary School is supposed to be merged with Leimapokpam Public School and Thiyam Girls' Lower Primary School with Thiyam Primary School.
However, so far there has been no official order in this regard.
Talking to The Sangai Express, head mistress of Leimapokpam Primary School pointed out that though abolition of some schools and merger with others may have been taken up under some developmental policies of the Government, arrangement of merger is something not like by all.
Because, Leimapokpam Primary School, which has class from I to V has a total strength of 75 students.
Abolition of such a school with adequate students and its proposed merger with Leimapokpam Public School is unreasonable.
Moreover, although the Government has announced abolition of Leimapokpam Primary School on April 21 last, there is been no order for its supposed merger, Pramodini said.
She further informed that following the announcement over the abolition of the school, some of the parents/guardians, who are confused over the whole matter, have stopped sending their children to the school.
So, there is the fear that these students may lost one academic year.
On the other hand, Thiyam Girls' Lower Primary School situated at Thiyam Awang Leikai is to be abolished and merged with Thiyam Primary School located at Thiyam Makha Leikai.
But there has been no official order on the merger.
Abolition of Thiyam Girls' Lower Primary School has also been opposed by people of the surrounding area.
According to sources, mid-day meal continues to be served to the students of the abolished schools and as usual the teachers are arranging the expenses which are to be refunded when the Government released the fund.
In connection with abolition of the schools, secretary of All Manipur Elementary School Teachers' Association, ZEO Zone-IV Bhudhagopal said that failure on the part of authorities concerned to come up with an order on the merger of the abolished schools with other has caused confusion in the mind of the teachers and the students and this should be resolved at the earliest possible.