Imphal, October 30 2009: In the backdrop of the continuing class boycott, Government recognised private schools have decided to surrender their recognition certificates in case schools are not allowed to resume classes by November 3 .

A decision to this effect was adopted during a meeting of the recognised private schools in which the existing situation, resulting from the indefinite class boycott against the July 23 fake encounter, was deliberated at length.

The meeting held today at MDU Hall under the aegis of the All Manipur Recognised Private Schools' Welfare Association was attended by teachers and founders of private schools.

Besides three different resolutions, the meeting agreed on constitution of a 12 member coordination committee with Kh Doren Khaba Nganba as convenor.

It resolved to appeal to both the Government and the agitating bodies to bring a solution to the impasse by November 2 so that normal classes can be resumed from November 3 .

In case the impasse continues and the class boycott remains, private schools would be constrained to launch different protest movements like protest sittings, mass rallies etc in addition to surrender of recognition certificates issued by the Government.

The third resolution of the meeting was to appeal to all concerned not to cause any disturbance to education sector on different issues that may erupt in Manipur.

The meeting was presided by H Bira Singh, president of the All Manipur Recognised Private Schools' Welfare Association.

Before taking any resolution, teachers and founders representing different schools were allowed to air their views and opinions on the issue.

They observed that it is only the society that stands to lose when students are being used as a means by depriving them of education because of the July 23 Khwairamband killing.

They also asserted that it was unbecoming of the Government not to pay any heed to the people's movement.

Many teachers and founders claimed that education by virtue of being the backbone of a society is protected and kept as a free zone at times of major issues and events in different parts of the world.

It is most unfortunate to deprive students of education and not to make any effort to enable students attend class because of an internal issue, they opined.

The Government ought to address the issue with all seriousness, they asserted.

In addition to depriving students of education, the indefinite class boycott has landed private school teachers and staff in great misery who are running their families with meagre salaries.

Many of the teachers attending the meeting appealed to the Government to provide relief to the teachers and staff who have not been paid salaries following the prolonged class boycott and subsequent closure of schools.

They demanded that the Government should take up necessary measures immediately in order to enable students attend class.

They further appealed to the AMSU, MSF and KSA to launch other modes of democratic movement in place of the indefinite class boycott movement.

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