Highlighting a few points, DESAM demanded that the state government should clarify if they are not able to address the issues by June 30.
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Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) drew the attention of the Manipur government to take steps to bring quality education in government-run colleges before the commencement of the new academic session. The student body also demanded transfer of officers who are not performing their duties and also asserted that the government should not delay the matter.
In a statement on Thursday, DESAM president Nameirakpam Edison highlighted the issue of improving colleges in the state. He stressed that it is time to implement Section 13.3 of the National Education Policy, 2020 by conducting a four-year Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP) in the five selected colleges. The work for rationalisation to make these colleges multidisciplinary should be initiated at the earliest, he added.
Stating that the ratio of students, teachers and subjects should be maintained, Edison also urged the state government to announce the vacant posts so that the Institutional Development Plan under Section 13.3 of NEP, 2020 can be implemented.
Edison further said that the imbalance in the college teachers and students can be observed at present where some teachers are conducting online classes day and night and some are sitting idle due to lack of students. This imbalance was also highlighted in the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2019 (September) report. According to funding agencies of higher education, the ratio should be between 1:10 and 1:60. But in Manipur there are many colleges which are either very high or very low, he added.
Stating that there are many colleges without regular principals for the last many years, Edison urged the state government to fill up the posts.
He also demanded that those officers, who are not able to execute the orders for rationalisation, fill up vacant posts of teachers and principals should be transferred. Stating that the chief minister has also assured about the matter in the Assembly, he urged the education minister and concerned to look into the matter.
The DESAM president also asserted that the government should clarify if they are not able to address these issues by June 30 because these points are imperative in bringing about quality education in colleges of the state.