Newmai News Network
Imphal, July 27: Amid the reports of the growing cases of extortions in educational institutions in the valley districts of Manipur, mass sit-in protests were organized at educational institutions for the three consecutive days today.
The protests which were organized under the aegis of the Coordinating Committee on Disturbance Free Educational Zone Demand were part of the “17th Disturbance-free Education Zone Demand Day” which was held on July 5 last.
Extending support to the campaign, large numbers of students and teachers of many government and private educational institutions in Thoubal district, Kakching district and Jiribam district staged sit-in protests in front of their respective gates, held a peace rally on the street and poster campaigns today.
During the events, placards and banners which read “Stop making exorbitant monetary demands in educational institutions”, “Don’t politicize in educational institutions”, “Stop corruption, favoritism and nepotism in educational related affairs”, “Formulate a policy to conduct classes not less than 220 in a year” and “Make education sector disturbance free” were displayed.
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Some of the educational schools in Kakching district where the sit-in-protests have been held were Martin Grammar School, MMS Genius Academy, PR English School, Grace Cottage Academy, Victory High School, Langmeidong Higher Secondary School among others.
In Jiribam district, sit-in-protests and poster campaign on the same issue have been organized at Jiri College, Jiribam Higher Secondary School, RK Sanatombi Vidyalaya, Katurba Girls’ High School, ZEO Office and Irabot Complex in Jiribam District.
Demanding to make the education sector free from every kind of threat and pressure, students and teachers of Memorial Model School, Yairipok held peace rallies in and around the Yairipok Bazar of Thoubal district this afternoon.
Speaking on the sideline of the rally, a student appealed to all concerned to stop giving harassment and disturbance to schools, teachers and students, adding that students need a conducive environment for education.
Mentioned may be made that similar protests were held at Imphal West, Imphal East and Bishnupur District on July 25 and 26.
Speaking in this connection, Coordinating Committee on Disturbance Free Educational Zone Demand convener Mayengbam Somorjit conveyed that authorities of many educational institutions in the Manipur valley have expressed fear that they may soon be compelled to close their institutions owing to the exorbitant monetary demands made by certain groups in the midst of the unrest in the state.
He further said that the education sector of the state is also greatly hampered by the wrongful conducts of the government authorities, like negligence in educational affairs and irrational transfer and postings of teachers while citing the fiasco at Dhanamanjuri University as an example.
“If we do not stop this kind of disturbances at the earliest, our education sector may collapse and the students’ careers may land in trouble soon. Hence, we organize poster campaigns, discourses and sit-ins among other activities to save our education sector”, Somorjit added.
Informing that around 400 educational institutions in the five valley districts have endorsed the campaign, the Coordinating Committee’s convener stated that every section of the society, be it the students’ organizations, armed groups or government should create a conducive environment.
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