Imphal, March 09, 2010: Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) and student representatives of 13 colleges have demanded the Government of Manipur to appoint regular principals in 28 Government colleges before the start of the academic session 2010. Among these 28 Government colleges, 25 are colleges of general education, two are teachers' training colleges while the remaining one if law colleges.

DESAM and the student representatives have contended that the effort being made to ensure quality education to the students has been affected as there are no regular principals in these colleges.

Addressing a press conference jointly at the head office of DESAM here today, secretary general of the student body M Angamba pointed out that for the last two decades no regular principals have been appointed in the Government colleges of Manipur.

Instead of regular principals, principal in-charges are being appointed for the administration of these colleges.

Unfortunately, these principal in-charges were also appointed only when they were due to be retired from services, thus affecting developmental activi- ties of the colleges, Angamba said, while informing that on February 28 this year alone, principal in-cha-rges of eight Government colleges have retired from their respective services.

Over and above this, Angamba went on to pointed out, the post of Director in the Directorate of Higher Education has been laying vacant since 1986.This has also given a serious impact on the development of higher education in the State.

As per the rules of appointing the Director of Higher Education, the candidate should have been the principal of a college for at least 5 years.

As no regular principals have been appointed, the post of the Director of Higher Education too could not be filled.

Moreover, in accordance to the guidelines of UGC, every States should have State Council of Higher Education.

But in Manipur, there has no such Council, thereby resulting in lack of co-ordination not only between the Government and the authorities of Manipur University but also between the University and its affiliated colleges, he lamented.

Demanding fulfilment of all these requirements before the start of the current academic session, DESAM and the student representatives of 13 colleges have also jointly submitted me-morandum to all concerned including the Chief Minister, the Education Minister, the Education Commissioner, the secretary of MPCC, etc.

The 13 colleges which are part of the petition include GP Women's College, Oriental College, Imphal College, Modern College, Moirang College, Thoubal College, YK College, MB College, DM College of Arts, Ideal College, Manipur College and DM College of Science.

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