The Democratic Students Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) has taken a firm stance against the recruitment process of 1,140 pre-primary teachers by the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) in Manipur.
Alleging amendments to the rules, DESAM imposed a ban on the recruitment, highlighting the crucial issue of teacher training.
President of DESAM M Somorjit Meitei, while speaking to the media at its office in Imphal, emphasised the importance of proper training for teachers, drawing parallels to other professions such as medicine and politics.
He likened recruiting untrained teachers to appointing doctors without MBBS or individuals as people’s representatives without contesting elections.
The absence of a timely establishment of a Pre-Primary Training Centre approved by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), under the guidelines of the NEP 2020, has exacerbated the situation, claimed Somorjit.
This alleged failure has led to what DESAM perceives as a flawed recruitment process, he said, adding to prevent this, DESAM has consistently advocated for the establishment of a four-year Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP), in line with their vision for quality education.
However, their calls have reportedly fallen on deaf ears, with no action taken by the state government, he added.
Expressing concerns over the future of education in Manipur, he cautioned that without intervention, outsiders may fill teaching positions in the state by 2030.
As a result, the ban on the recruitment process will persist until the state government establishes a training institute for pre-primary teachers recognised by the NCTE, the president announced.
In addition to the recruitment ban, DESAM has also called for the removal of the current commissioner and director of the Education Department, as well as a change in the Education minister despite the ongoing model code of conduct, accusing them of negligence in their duties.
