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Front Page >> Editorials > Story

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Educatively Yours
Ever since we introduced our State Watch column a few months back we have been concentrating not only on the lack of civic sense amongst the general population but also on the condition of the educational institutes. So from the ‘wilds’ of the school and college campuses to the dilapidated buildings of the educational institutes to the dirty and filthy toilets and loos we have been highlighting the abysmal condition of the educational establishments in the State all these months and not surprisingly all such institutions are Government owned. 

Even the top college of the State, DM College is not free from the guilt of letting its campus and building rot away. We certainly do not think that the unkempt, dirty campuses and dilapidated school and college buildings can be attributed to the acute lack of fund. Far from funds, what is lacking is character, the will and inclination to respect the sanctum sanctorum of the educational establishments. 

We comment on the filthy conditions surrounding educational institutes because we are of the opinion that the dilapidated school buildings and the untended college campus and dirty toilets reflect our attitude towards education. Today in this intensely scientific age, it is not natural resources that is being taken as the barometer to reflect the stage of development of a group of people or Nation but its human resources and when we talk about human resources we have to invariably veer towards the education system and how well educated its people are. 

Manipur continues to churn out a large number of graduate and post graduate students each year and judging by the announcements made in the State dailies, we can also say that we have been producing quite a number of gold medallists and PhD holders on a regular basis but despite this our State lags behind others in all spheres. Why is this so? The answer we think lies in the fact that we have not been able to produce truly educated persons who can meet the demands of the new age.

For a society to develop and progress we do not need individual brilliance but a whole set of educated generation and this is what has been lacking. To right this, a sound education policy is called for, not some adhoc measures to tide over the need of the present. A long term plan with an eye on at least the next ten years. A system of education which will encourage debates and discussions and not something which has to be pushed down the throat of our young students. A system that encourages open and healthy competition. A system that does away with monopoly of any sort. A system which nourishes and encourages the probing and questioning mind. A system where differences of ideas or opinions are not brow beaten into meek submission. 

These are the points we have to consider without any ifs and buts if Manipur is to join the race towards development. For the past many years we have been producing students who wield nothing other than their certificates and yes the fault lies not with the students but with the system. We may also ask who is responsible for creating such a system that passes off as education here. A sincere look into our hearts and souls will surely leave many of us squirming with discomfort. 

All said and done, we have to ensure that we tap our human resources effectively and sincerely and the best way to start that is to streamline our education system. On second thoughts that may be asking for too much if we consider that majority of our students, especially students in the remote and hilly areas do not even have access to their primers. And of course we also have to contend with an authority that does not even care to look after the buildings of its educational establishments.

(Courtesy: The Sangai Express)

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