Manipur: Disaffiliation of 26 schools under CBSE, suspension of 3 officials trigger massive protest

The Joint Students Body (JSB) sealed the Churachandpur and Pherjawl Zonal Education Offices and did not allow the Kangpokpi official enter the office premises

Reported by MK Henry (Churachandpur), Kaybie Chongloi (Kangpokpi)

The CBSE’s decision to withdraw its affiliation from 26 schools in Manipur’s Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts and suspension of three zonal education officers (ZEOs) have angered student groups. The Joint Students Body (JSB) staged a protest today and sealed the Churachandpur and Pherjawl Zonal Education Offices as a sign of protest. JSB has threatened to agitate further if the decision is not rolled back.

JSB had earlier served an ultimatum to the Government of Manipur to revoke the suspension order of the three ZEO officials and reverse the disaffiliation of schools under the CBSE. 26 schools – 14 in Churachandpur and 12 in Kangpokpi were disaffiliated by CBSE.

JSB Spokesperson Samuel Taithul said, “As a follow up to the 48-hour ultimatum, we decided to lock down the Churachandpur and Pherjawl Zonal Education Offices as a sign of protest against the unjust suspension of 3 ZEO officials. Besides, this protest was necessitated by the disaffiliation of 26 schools under the CBSE in Kangpokpi and Churachandpur districts.

The demand in particular to the Central Government is that the decision to suspend the 3 ZEO officials and disaffiliate the schools be revised at the earliest, otherwise the JSB vows that more stringent actions will have to be taken in the coming days.”

Not only in Churachandpur and Pherjawl, similar protests erupted in Kangpoki district too.

The Kuki Students Organisation (KSO) Sadar Hills leaders and volunteers were seen stopping the in-charge ZEO Kangpokpi from joining office and asked her to go back from the main entrance gate of the office. Despite the fervent appeal from the in-charge ZEO, the KSO Sadar Hills and its volunteers were adamant in their stand and said that unless the suspension order of the ZEO is revoked, the office of the ZEO will remain sealed.

“Today the (KSO Sadar Hills) is compelled to close down the ZEO office and Deputy Inspector of Schools, Saitu and Deputy Inspector of Schools, Saikul offices since our ultimatum of 48-hours has expired and the state government has not taken up a decision to revoke it. When the concerned ZEO came to join the office but the KSO volunteers and us we are not satisfied with the suspension orders of the state government. So we have sent her back and we will not let her join the office under any means until and unless the suspension order is revoked,” General Secretary, KSO Sadar Hills Thangtinlen Haokip said.

In December last year the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) had withdrawn its affiliation from the schools.

The Manipur Education Department citing reasons for it had said that the CBSE has withdrawn the affiliation, which was recently granted to the 25 schools on the ground that the NOC (No Objection Certificate) submitted by these schools has not been issued by the authorised functionaries of the state government and for cancellation of affiliation as requested by the state government by its letter on December 15.

On January 12, the Manipur Government issued a notification about the suspension of the 3 ZEOs for their alleged involvement in adopting fraudulent methods for the entire affiliation process.

Watch also: Manipur: JSB protests disaffiliation of schools by CBSE, suspension of education officials

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