Education Minister chairs second meeting of state Consultative Committee on education

IMPHAL, May 7: The second meeting of State Consultative Committee on Education of which Education Minister is the Chairman was held today at Imphal and the meeting minutely discussed ways on how to improve the standards of education in the state. The committee is comprised of MLAs representing each district.

The high level meeting which began at 3p.m. at the conference hall of Adult Education Department located at Babupara expressed concern over the paltry financial investment in the education sector by the state government while resolving to press the Chief Minister who also holds the portfolio of Finance for provision of enough financial investment in education sector in the annual budget so as to improve the backward schools and colleges.

Members of State Consultative Committee on Education, Parliamentary Secretary, Vunzagin Valte, MLA Dr. Ng Bijoy, MLA RK Anand, MLA Fajur Rahim, MLA Preshaw Simray and high ranking officials of the department attended the meeting. The meeting held discussion particularly on making efforts to successfully take up various projects and schemes being undertaken by the education department and bringing a change in education sector with various difficulties and problems being dealt with and  a concerted effort being made. The matters resulting from the discussion should be translated into action.

Speaking at the meeting, Education Minister, M Okendro who is also Chairman of the Committee said that as education sector is more important than other sectors, there is the necessity for the state government to provide sufficient investment in education in the budget.

Pointing out that as per the budget 202-13, about 2.7% of the state budget was earmarked for education he said that the department did not get even Rs 1 crore after out of 2.7%, the state matching shares of centrally sponsored schemes including SSA, RMSA and Mid day meal etc were provided.

Asking how the paltry amount of money will manage shortages of schools, he said that the amount is not sufficient for buying chalk-duster.

In states like Tripura around 41% of the state plan is invested in education sector. He said that though such amount was not provided, it is necessary for the state government to reserve sufficient amount in the state budget to improve the standards of education. It was proposed that as in other states Education Minister be appointed as Chairman of Governing council  of SSA and RMSA instead of the Chief Minister while Education Commissioner be appointed as Chairman of Executive Committee instead of Chief Secretary and it will lead to more decentralisation in taking up the schemes.

Stating that the school buildings under SSA/RMSA are not constructed properly, MLA Dr. Ng Bijoy said during the meeting that school buildings should be constructed properly under the supervision of the Engineering wing of Education Department. Teachers should be made to discharge their duties with ZEO/AI/DI inspecting the schools. He continued that teachers should not be allowed to do at their disposal with parent – teachers association being constituted if government schools are to be revived. Mushrooming of private schools led to government schools falling into a decline. To curb it it is necessary to table the matter at the committee of officers at the time of recognition of private schools. Ng Bijoy drew the attention of the Education Minister to introduce English as medium of instruction. MLA RK Anand, MLA Preshaw Simray, Parliamentary Secretary V. Valte and MLA Fajur Rahman gave their opnions on the matters of education.

It was resolved to press the Chief Minister for sufficient investment in education to be allocated in the annual budget in time and to extend all possible support to frame a transparent transfer and posting policy.