The BJP-led state government have just observed the completion of its first year of governance, and while many critics have already started highlighting loopholes and drawbacks in its functioning, one cannot deny the fact that the pace of developmental activities aimed at improving the lives of the public and increase convenience, and the perception of transparency in administration have increased considerably- an important indicator of the level of trust in the government by the public.
However, there remains an area where any attempts and efforts being prepared and implemented so far have failed to get anywhere near the desired result or the predetermined objective- the education sector. The present education scenario in the state can at best be described as controlled chaos. The makeshift system in place at present that is prone to changes with the slightest interference from forces from within and beyond the socially accepted spheres have led to an air of uncertainty amongst the students and school administrators that has ultimately affected the psyche of the students. The grand schemes and studied projects of the government have so far proved to be a dud, but what is of greater concern is the visibly nonchalant attitude of the state officials and authorities to the worsening situation especially with regard to the functioning and administration of the government run schools in the state. It may be mentioned that The Manipur Private School (Registration and Regulation) Bill, 2017, and Manipur Coaching Institute (Control and Regulation) Bill, 2017, were passed unanimously during the last assembly session in a desperate bid on the part of the state government to curb the mushrooming private educational institutions which have cropped up due to the failure of the government educational institutions to perform their basic duties.
The mad rush for admission to these private schools have resulted in various unscrupulous elements to take advantage of the situation and have employed methods fair and foul for their personal benefits at the cost of these desperate students and their parents. And while the move of the state government is an attempt to regulate and control the situation, the effort can by no means be termed as a comprehensive or lasting solution. On the contrary, some concerned intellectuals have expressed dismay at the trajectory of the whole exercise which is seen as a deviation from the real challenge of finding a comprehensive and pragmatic solution which is both sustainable and flexible enough to incorporate changes with the passage of time.
The fact of the matter is that instead of diverting resources for slapdash solutions to the worsening problem, it is time for the state government and its department to get down and get into the root of the matter. Denying the fact that the state run education system is in total rot is still proving to be the biggest hurdle to initializing a radical change in the education sector in the state.
Appreciating the role the private schools are playing in maintaining a basic level of efficiency and credibility in education would be a good point to start. There are various points and systems that can be emulated and adapted from these private educational institutions. Taking them as partners rather than rivals in the new endeavour would yield better results.
