The Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BOSEM) is once again in the midst of a controversy regarding misuse of funds allocated for students and irregularities in staff promotion.
Allegations have been made against the Board Chairman Akham Joykumar in the new controversy, who had also been accused of involvement in mark tampering in the HSLC examination 2018 when he was the secretary.
There is also a demand from some students’ unions to remove him from the post of Chairman as his age is above 60 which violates the rules.
Following the demand, an IFP reporter found the controversy surrounding the chairman Akham Joykumar.
During the IFP investigation, it was found that a student who should have been in the first position in the then 2018 HSLC exam instead received fourth place due to mark tampering.
The said student requested a re-evaluation. But on June 21 2018, Akham Joykumar sent out a note stating that there would be “no change order.”
The matter was also highlighted in a press conference conducted then and accordingly, the education department took up measures in which one official was implicated.
The state government even constituted a committee based on whose recommendations both the secretary, Akham Joykumar and controller of Examination, T Phulchand were removed in 2018.
But the present government has brought back the same Akham Joykumar, the ousted secretary of the BOSEM, with promotion as chairman at BOSEM.
It was against the orders of the department of Higher and Technical Education, issued regarding “Tenure, Transfer and Posting Policy under Higher and Technical Education Department” and the UGC norms of non-coverage by enhanced age of superannuation in respect of non- teaching jobs.
The ‘controversial’ chairman then promoted a few employees twice in one year which amounts to violation of the recruitment regulations. The relevant documents are with IFP.
The investigation also revealed that a staff member who had only passed class 12 was elevated to a graduate post-LDA and UDA by the chairman Akham Joykumar.
Another serious allegation is about the chairman’s involvement in the question leak controversy in 2022 and 2023. His alleged involvement in the question leak also came up.
In an instance of financial mismanagement, an examination committee authorised 750 trunks at a cost of Rs 5,60,000, but the chairman created 950 trunk bills for Rs 8,96,800.
Additionally, the bill was created without purchasing a trunk by M/S BMC Agency Sangakpham, Chingmeirong.
The chairman was also allegedly involved in publishing duplicate textbooks for BOSEM students after plotting with a printing firm.
Inappropriate publication of diary by increasing numbers year by year like in 2022 with 600 copies, followed by 1500 copies in 2023 and 2000 copies in 2024, was also found.
A student body DESAM had also submitted a memorandum to the education minister to remove the chairman on various allegations regarding misuse of funds by the Board etc.
