The education sector in Manipur’s Imphal East District faces a severe crisis with a significant drop in student enrollment for the academic session 2023-24, contradicting claims of normalcy in the region. Violent conflicts and safety concerns are major factors affecting students’ education.
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In a matter of serious concern for the education sector in ethnic-conflict-torn Manipur, hundreds of schools in Imphal East District in Manipur have registered an unprecedented decline in student enrollment during the academic session of 2023-24. The Prime Minister had asserted in the Rajya Sabha that in most parts of Manipur, schools, colleges and offices are running like normal days. However, enrollment data of 2022-23 and that of 2023-24 suggest a more complex situation. Many students do not feel a safe learning environment in Manipur.
According to official documents from the education department of the Manipur Government accessed by The Frontier Manipur, a total of 301 schools within the administrative jurisdiction of the Zonal Education Officer, Zone-II, witnessed a collective decrease of 14,676 students. This severe drop in enrollment of students in a district contradicts claims of normalcy in the education sector.
Alarming Enrollment Data
Key Statistics:
**Total Decrease:** 301 schools witnessed a collective decrease of 14,676 students.
**2022-23 Enrollment:** 64,318 students.
**2023-24 Enrollment:** 49,542 students.
**Schools with Zero Enrollment:** 8 schools (5 private, 2 government-aided, 1 government).
**Schools with Single-Digit Enrollment:** 47 schools.
These 301 schools, which registered enrollment of 64,318 students during 2022-23, reported enrollment of 49,542 students only during 2023-24. Among these, eight schools drew blank with no enrollment at all during the academic year. These included five private schools, two government-aided schools, and one government school. Moreover, 47 schools had just single-digit enrollments in the same academic year.
Notable Cases
**Christ Jyoti School, Mantripukhri:** This school, where various communities including Meitei and Kuki coexist, recorded the highest decline in student strength in the district. Enrollment dropped from 2,713 students in 2022-23 to 1,612 students in 2023-24, a decrease of 1,101 students.
The ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki communities is likely a major factor behind the steep fall in student enrollment in a year. Christ Jyoti School in Mantripukhri, where various communities including Meitei and Kuki coexist, recorded the highest decline in students’ strength in the district. The school, which had 2,713 students enrolled in 2022-23, saw an enrollment of 1,612 students in 2023-24 a drop of 1,101 students.
It is very difficult to say at the moment whether these students have dropped out of school or transferred to other schools in the State. The authority in the education department took the matter seriously. The Zonal Education officer held a meeting at ZEO Zone II Office in Imphal East on July 27 with all the headmasters of schools that had reported a dip in student enrolment, to “discuss it comprehensively and develop strategies to reverse the trend”.
A circular issued by Zonal Education Officer, Zone II M Premchandra Singh on July 24 said “many schools have experienced a decrease in student enrollment in last year 2023. This decline was been observed across various programs and educational indicators.”
SEE Circular issued by Zonal Education Officer, Zone II
While there may be multiple factors that might have contributed to this trend and the schools should commit to identifying the root causes and addressing them effectively
In the meeting, the headmasters were directed to submit details, including PEN (personal education number, of the students who dropped out of their respective schools, said sources.
Breaking his silence on the Manipur violence that broke out on May 3, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had told the Rajya Sabha on July 3 that violence in Manipur was steadily declining and schools had begun reopening across most parts of the state. This statement was made during his response to the debate on the motion thanking the President’s Address to a joint sitting of Parliament. “Today, in most parts of Manipur, like normal days, schools, colleges, offices are running. In Manipur too, examinations were held there like in other parts,” said Modi.
The Prime Minister was correct in claiming that schools have reopened in most parts of Manipur. However, using school openings as an indicator to assert the return of normalcy in the state will be insufficient. The sharp drop in student enrolment in numerous schools in Imphal is alarming and needs immediate attention. Ensuring a safe and conducive learning environment is a must for all the students while running the schools. Reversing this declining trend and restoring confidence among the students and parents will require a comprehensive approach from the government.