Imphal, January 03: Reacting to a move of the Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur (COHSEM) to conduct public exams in class XI, the All Manipur Government Higher Secondary Lecturers Welfare Association (AMGSLWA) has decided to conduct promotion exams in the schools/colleges rather than public exams.

Talking to reporters today at Johnstone School, secretary of AMGSLWA, M Joykumar alleged that the decision to conduct public exam was taken not to promote quality education but to generate more income for the council.

The move would give a fatal blow to the poverty stricken families, he observed.

He cautioned that this decision to introduce 10+1+1 system of education in Manipur rather than 10+2+3 as practised in all other states of the country would be a blunder on the part of the Council.

Such a system would fail education in the State instead of bringing quality education, he asserted.

Conduction of promotion exam by the respective schools/colleges cost only Rs 100 while the Council is charging about Rs 1500 per student for the public exam as decided by the Council which is unaffordable for many students, maintained the secretary.

Such high exam fees is tantamount to defying the goal set by UNESCO to impart education to one and all, observed Joykumar.

In this connection, a memorandum has been submitted to the Education Minister, Francis Ngajokpa, he informed.

Meanwhile, the All Manipur Joint Higher Secondary Students' Unions has also submitted a similar memorandum to the Education Minister objecting the decision of the Council and seeking intervention.

In a meeting today with student representatives the Minister observed that this move of the Council is irresponsible and assured the students that adequate steps would be initiated soon.

Comment