Imphal, Aug 08: A one-day open discussion on 'demand for an informal adoption of Nagaland Board curriculum and syllabus by some schools in Manipur and the future of students involved' held under the joint aegis of All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) and Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) at GM Hall here today has adopted various resolutions.

The resolutions include urging the Government of Manipur to settle the matter immediately and to make it public; to conduct a comparative analysis of the curriculum and syllabus of the Board of Secondary Education, Manipur and Nagaland Board of Secondary Education before deciding further course of action, to appeal to all sections of the people in Manipur to refrain from linking ethnic politics to education and to organise mass campaign in this connection.

The session further resolved that a Joint Task Force (JTF) of AMSU and DESAM be entrusted with the task of implementing these resolutions.

Earlier taking part in the discussion, noted educationist Dr TH Gangte categorically stated that the efforts being made to adopt the curriculum and syllabus prescribed by Nagaland Board in the private schools located in the hill districts is unreasonable and would never materialise.

It is being done at the the instigation of some vested interest group of people with the main objective of setting one community against another, he said.

The contents of the text books and the syllabus prescribed by the Manipur Board are in no way inferior in comparison to the all India level whereas Nagaland is a State which does not have its own literature and standard language, Dr Gangte added.

Head of Political Science Department, Manipur University Ksh Bimola observed that the campaign being launched by some Naga student bodies to affiliate schools in the hill districts of Manipur to Nagaland Board and prescribe its text books is yet another attempt to give an impact on the ongoing peace talks between the Government of India and NSCN (I-M).

School authorities, students and their parents could have been taken into confidence in this regard, she opined.

If the Government of India concedes to thedemand of the Naga students, then it would have its impact not only in the relationship of the two neighbouring States but also with India, she said, adding that this should be realised by the Naga leaders.

N Gojendra of Economics Department of NG College was also among the resource persons and educationists who attended and shared their opinions on the issue during the open discussion held with Dean of Students' Welfare, MU Prof W Nabakumar, AMSU president Birendra Chingakham and president of DESAM K Chinglenkhomba as presidium members.

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