Morung Express News
Dimapur | July 21
In the context of the present issue raised by the Naga Students Federation and All Naga Students’ Association Manipur (ANSAM), Outer Manipur Lok Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) Mani Charenamei has written to Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh pointing out that the rejection of the text books by the Naga students was bound to happen as the education system followed in the State of Manipur has never been in the interest of the tribal minorities including the Nagas.
“The Naga students of Manipur, though separated by the imposed state boundaries has found the syllabus prescribed by the Nagaland Board of Secondary Education (NBSE) very friendly, owing to ethnic affinity, cultural and historical oneness”, Charenamei stated in his representation.
The MP on the other hand stated that the syllabus prescribed by the Board of Secondary Education, Manipur was taxing on students and too tough for the poor tribal students of Manipur. “To get through science and mathematics tests are the biggest hurdles for the poor tribal boys and girls and this also have been the main factor for the rise in the number of school drop-outs among the tribal communities”, the MP stated.
Charenamei also alleged that the syllabus of BOSEM was driven by a policy to assimilate the minority communities into the culture of the majority at the cost of their distinct identity, culture and languages. “The imposition of Meitei language and mayek script on the tribal students in the education system by an ordinance of the State Assembly is very much against the interest of the tribal people of Manipur.
In the light of the above, the MP urged the Minister to allow affiliation of about 164 private schools in the Naga areas of Manipur to the NBSE as special case in the interest of the thousands of students enrolled in these schools.
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