The United Association of Recognised Schools of Manipur (UARSoM) and Hill District Private School Association Manipur (HIDIPSAM) have announced that they will take their own course of action to reopen schools from October if the state government is still indecisive on opening of the schools in the state.
The two associations intimated that they will order all its constituent private schools in the state to collect 50 per cent tuition fees from students for the time period between April till the time schools reopen.
The private schools’ associations also pressed that the last date for submission of registration forms for class 9 and 10 students under the Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BOSEM) and enrolment of class 11 and 12 students under the Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur (COHSEM) be extended till October.
The resolution was adopted during a joint meeting of UARSoM and HIDIPSAM convened on Tuesday at St Joseph’s Higher Secondary School, Sangaiprou.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, general secretary of UARSoM, Seikhojam Kipgen said that the tuition fees collected would be utilised in managing the salary of the teachers and other school administration. He also said that the associations will soon instruct the private schools in the state to abide by the resolution of the two associations, regarding the collection of 50 per cent tuition fees and reopening of the schools from October.
However, all the prime stakeholders, including the parents and teachers, would be consulted and the situation of the pandemic would be considered before reopening the schools, stated Kipgen. He further said that two associations have taken the decision in order to tackle the problems currently faced by private schools in the state and to save the career of the students.
“The private schools have been suffering for over five months. However, the state government has failed to pay attention and it has shown a lackadaisical attitude regarding the problems and demands of the private schools,” he lamented.
Regarding the deadlines given by BOSEM and COHSEM for submissions of enrolment and registration of students, Seikhojam added that the schools will find it difficult to comply with the given deadlines due to the prevailing situation. He suggested that the deadline should also be relaxed and be extended until the month of October.
Secretary, BOSEM, Chithung Mary had issued a notification on August 31 and allowed submission of registration forms for class 9 and 10 for the academic session 2020- 2021 till September 29. Similarly, COHSEM secretary, Ch Biren Singh had also issued a notification on August 25 and extended the last date for online submission of enrolment and submission of completed registration forms for class 11 and 12 to COHSEM till September 26 and September 28 respectively.
UARSoM had warned on September 11 that it will take its own course of action if the state government fails to solve the impasse of tuition fees and salary issues in private schools, by September 16.
Following the state government order on June 20, which directed all private schools to pay salary to their staff without collecting any fees from students, UARSoM had urged the department concerned for revocation of the order through submission of representations, memorandum and by having meetings with the education minister, officials of the state education department and the chief minister.
Demanding the same, Hill District Private Schools had also suspended all modes of teaching and school-related activities in hill districts for five days beginning from September 17 to September 21.
