Thousands of students across the Kuki-Zo-dominated Kangpokpi district held a massive rally today drawing the attention of the Prime Minister over the CBSE affiliation row.
The massive rally kicked off at Nute Kailhang in downtown Kangpokpi and proceeded toward Deputy Commissioner Kangpokpi's office via the National Highway-2.
Traffic flow was disrupted during the rally while Kangpokpi police were on high alert monitoring the movement of the rally to avoid any unwanted incidents.
The student protesters who shouted the slogans, "Revoke the three education officials' suspension orders", "Free Education from Politics", and "We Want Justice", etc. also held placards that read, "Re-officiate the 25 tribal schools", "Neglecting education is a crime against the future", "Empower minds, promote fair and accessible education, not political agendas", "We need equal access to education", "We cannot tolerate a political motivated and unjust de-affiliation of our sacred portal of learning", "Keep your dirty hands off our right to education, no room for political games", "Manipur Government against the right to education", etc.
The massive student rally led by the Kuki Students' Organization Sadar Hills submitted a four-page representation to the Prime Minister through DC Kangpokpi calling immediate attention to the alleged deplorable state of education in Kuki-Zo districts of Manipur.
The Kuki-Zo student's representation to the Prime Minister highlighted the alleged politically motivated de-affiliation of 25 schools in the tribal areas with the CBSE; the alleged unjust suspension of three ZEO officials; and the past instances of alleged discriminatory practices of Manipur University towards the Kuki-Zo students while demanding re-affiliating the 25 schools, revoke the suspension order of the three ZEO officials, and establish a Central University in Lamka(Churachandpur) district.
On the sideline of the rally, KSO Sadar Hills General Secretary, Thangtinlen Haokip said that the massive protest rally is in continuation of demand for a fair share of justice in the education sector in the state of Manipur.
He recalled that the Kuki Students Organizations had publicly appealed for the revocation of the suspension order of three of our Kuki-Zo Officials, who were wrongfully charged by the Meitei majoritarian administration and had served an ultimatum of 48 Hours which has already lapsed.
"This willful and wanton exercise of power especially in the fields of education will have a resounding impact on the future careers of our generation", he asserted.
He further said that Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and his cohorts are appealed yet again to retract from their ill-conceived and ill-advised political discourse which has shamed the people of Manipur.
Meanwhile, the Sadar Hills Private Schools Association, or the SHIPS, while staunchly refuting the suspension of the three dedicated officials, urged Manipur's Education Department to consider its decision and ensure immediate revocation of the suspended three officials for the good of all.
The Zonal Education Officer of Churachandpur, Jangkhohao Haokip, the Zonal Education Officer of Kangpokpi, Lhingtineng Singsit, and the Deputy Inspector of Schools, Samulamlan Block, L. Taithul was suspended with effect on January 12, purportedly based on the issuance of No Objection Certificates, or the NOC, to 25 schools in the strife-torn Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts for their affiliation to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the only national level school education board.
Vehemently condemning the suspension of the three officials, SHIPS demanded a few actions from the state Government and the Education Department sooner than later.
Firstly, the top educational body of Sadar Hills challenged the state's Education Department to provide or produce the specific standing or pertinent legislation that prohibits Zonal Education Officers from issuing NOCs and urged the department to make the legislation accessible to the public.
Secondly, it demanded the publication of the issued NOCs or the immediate release of all NOCs issued to private schools in the valley districts accompanied by an official statement affirming that no NOCs have been issued by ZEOs of the valley district as transparency is crucial to establish the veracity of the accusations against the suspended officials.
Thirdly, SHIPS called for the issuance of public notification on NOC fees or outlining the fees to be paid and the expected number of days to be waited to obtain an NOC, stating that clear guidelines will help dispel any ambiguity and ensure fair practices in the NOC issuance process.
Fourthly, the association insisted on the presentation of the state Government Gazette notification containing the prescribed procedure and legislation for obtaining NOC for affiliation to CBSE as it will provide a comprehensive understanding of the established norms and rules governing the affiliation process.
Fifthly, SHIPS demanded justification from the Manipur Government and the Meitei communities as to why the Kuki-Zo community should not disassociate themselves from them and be separate from the Manipur Meitei Government that executed ethnic cleansing and complete practical separation.
It also stated that the targeted community, the Kuki-Zo, in Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Chandel, and Tengnoupal Districts can and will never have any more trust in the institutions and machineries of the state Government of Manipur under the Meetei majoritarianism.
"This has been bluntly and comprehensively shown by the ethnic cleansing pogrom executed by the Meetei radicals under state patronage that has been taking place since May 3, 2023, till date", it stated.
SHIPS also emphasized that the suspended officials were merely fulfilling their duty and responsibilities as the rightful authorities at the district level.
It maintained that the withdrawal of affiliation by CBSE, allegedly under political pressure, should have been a sufficient punishment for the officials.
"Withdrawing all the affiliations and then suspending the officials tantamount to double punishment and injustice meted to the communities living in the affected districts", it added.
SHIPS further stated that the State Government should rather appreciate the initiative of the Union Government for quality education as per NEP 2020 and NCF 2023 to be spearheaded by CBSE, which is the highest school-level education body.
While urging the state Education Department to reconsider its decision and ensure immediate revocation of the suspensions, it stated that SHIPS stands united in its commitment to upholding the integrity of the education system and advocates for a just resolution to this issue and immediate revocation of the suspended officials and affiliation for the good of all.
The Hills Journal
K. Salbung, Churachandpur
Manipur-795128
