Will Manipur Government provide free education to displaced students in 2024?

Northeast Live spoke to different stakeholders in this regard, but it is only the government which will take the final call

Peace is what Manipur has been yearning for since the May 3 turmoil, but at the same time the future of students is also something which has been most talked about. While the government has come up with concrete ideas in an attempt to compensate the academic loss faced by the students, the displaced people are still anxious about the fate of their wards. They are uncertain on whether the government will continue to impart free education to their children for the 2024 session, just like it was done this year after violence broke out.

The Manipur Government has been imparting free education to all the displaced and affected students in Government schools for the 2023 academic session.

Even private schools in Manipur have also been providing free education for the displaced students besides providing uniforms and books.

In a bid to understand as to what may follow, Northeast Live spoke to Principals of both government as well as private schools.

Konsam Memtombi, Principal of Nongpok Maheikol High School said, “Presently our school has 1300 students and 30 of them were Internally Displaced Students from relief camps. For this year, we have been providing exercise books, uniform and other materials which are essential for every students, free of cost.
But for the session that has to commence from 1st February 2024, if there are any changes in relief camps or any development in the situation, we are planing to get some payment from the IDP students. But, if the situation in the state continues as like now then, we will further help the affected students for the session 2024.

We also went to many relief camps asking parents to give education to their child at our school free of cost. For students from far flung areas we also assured that we will provide them boarding facilities free of cost. We have been also providing councelling to the affected students who are facing trauma due to the violence.”

Kh Samananda who is an ex-Navy officer and presently Education Care Taker at the Thongju Kendra Relief Camp also spoke to Northeast Live.

Sharing his ideas about the matter, Samananda said, “The situation is such that the students want to study but they are unable to do so. There is a time period for learning but COVID too ruined that for at least 2 years. I predicted that it could turn even worse this time, but I tried to gather all such displaced children for a streamlined process of learning. Luckily the Private Schools Association of Manipur has helped a lot in the learning process by exempting admission and tution fees. But the problem is that apart from this the students need uniform, textbooks and other study materials. What steps the government will take?, will the Private Schools Association exempt fees or not in 2024, nothing is clear as of now. So I request the PSA and the Manipur Government to provide free education (in 2024) to the students displaced due to the conflict.”

Watch also: Manipur: Will govt provide free education to displaced students in 2024?

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