Northeast Desk, 21st March: The Democratic Student Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) is demanding the annulment of the recruitment process for 1140 pre-primary teachers, alleging manipulation of recruitment rules by the Education Department for political gain ahead of the looming Lok Sabha elections.
At a press conference held in Kwakeithel, DESAM President Mayengbam Somorjit vehemently voiced the organization’s opposition, stating, “The eligibility criteria for pre-primary teacher recruitment have been skewed to favor candidates with backgrounds in medicine or engineering, bypassing essential teacher training requirements.”
Somorjit emphasized DESAM’s commitment to upholding educational standards, citing the Right to Education Act of 2009, which mandates proper training for teachers. He underscored the discrepancy between government actions and the RTE Act’s principles, advocating for quality education in Manipur.
In response, Somorjit outlined three key demands: establishment of a Pre-Primary Teachers Training Institution accredited by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), suspension of the recruitment process until such institutions are established, and replacement of the Commissioner and Director of Education for advising controversial reforms.
DESAM also lamented Manipur’s delay in implementing the 4-year Integrated Teacher Education Program (ITEP), contrasting it with neighboring states’ success in adopting ITEP. They called for urgent action to align Manipur’s education system with regional standards.
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