Imphal, June 15 2009: Education minister L Jayentakumar yesterday inaugurated Oinam Hill Government Model School in Karong AC of Senapati District.

Purul High School has also been upgraded to Higher Secondary.

Minister Jayentakumar laid the foundation stone for construction of the building of Purul Higher Secondary School yesterday.

MLA of Karong AC and Tribal Development Minister, DD Thaisii, former Education Minister Francis Ngajokpa, Chairman of Hill Areas Committee, Thangmilien Kipgen, Additional Director, Education (Hills), C Hangshing and office bearers of All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM) were present at both functions.

Opening of a Government Model School at Oinam in Senapati District is a follow up of the decision taken recently by the state Cabinet to open a Government Model School in each of the nine districts of the state.

Speaking as the chief guest at the innauguration of the Oinam Hill Government Model School, Education Minister Jayentakumar affirmed that under the leadership of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi, a number of development programmes are being taken up in the hill districts to build a bridge of equality with the valley.

He said, providing children a good education is essential for ushering in development.

That is why, in implementation of the Cabinet decision, the Government Model School is being opened at Oinam and Purual High School is being upgraded to the level of a Higher Secondary School.

Jayentakumar further said that the building of the Model School was constructed with the money from the Special Plan Assistance (SPA) and unless the people of the area produce good students, the efforts will be in vain.

The School has become a property of the people.

Repairing and maintaining the School will be the duty of the public.

The same goes with Purul Higher Secondary School.

It is really heart-breaking to see such schools which give the children the light of education being burnt, the Minister said.

He said, "Just one day after I took the oath of office as a Minister, a number of school buildings in the hill districts were burnt down.

I went to inspect the schools that had been burnt and my heart broke when I saw little children with school bags hanging on their little shoulders standing near the burnt benches and weeping.

I had never come across more a heart breaking incident than that in my life".

"Therefore, everyone must consider the schools as property of the public and students.

Please treat the schools as the second church," Jayentakumar appealed.

With a view to filling up the gap in education, serious efforts are being made, the Education Minister said adding that Indira Gandhi Hill University is also being set up as a part of the efforts.

He promised to construct better infrastructure for the hill schools and appoint teachers for Mathematics, Science, Commerce, Computer Science, etc.

He also promised direct and open appointment of teachers at the schools concerned.

TD Minister, DD Thaisii said, the schools in the hills had declined due to negligence of the state governments.

But today under the guidance of young minister L Jayentakumar, a lot of changes are taking place in the education scenario in the hills.

Moreover various development works are also being taken up under the leadership of Chief Minister O Ibobi, Thaisii said and assured the people of Oinam that a community hall will be constructed very soon.

Former Minister, Francis Ngajokpa appealed to all people to cultivate mutual love and understanding between the peoples of the hills and the valley for peaceful co-existence.

Chairman of Hill Areas Committee, Thangmilien Kipgen reminded the sufferings faced by the people of Oinam area due to the torture of the Indian Army.

He said, the School has become the property of the people of the surrounding areas and it is their duty to protect and maintain the school.

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