Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Monday announced that the summer vacation in schools across the state has been reduced from the usual three weeks to one week in view of the prevailing law and order situation. He said the decision was taken to minimise disruption to students’ education and ensure continuity in academic activities despite the challenges posed by current circumstances.
The Chief Minister noted that the normal functioning of educational institutions and government offices was disrupted for nearly a month after the Tronglaobi incident on April 7. As a result, Saturdays were declared working days for all government departments to make up for lost time.
He added that Saturdays would again be made holidays once the pending work is completed. A five-year-old boy and his six-month-old sister were killed, while their mother sustained serious injuries, when suspected Kuki militants hurled a powerful bomb at their home in Tronglaobi village in Bishnupur district on April 7 as the victims were asleep.
Singh attended the inaugural function of a three-day workshop on “Reforms in School Education of Manipur: An Approach to Implementation, Challenges and Opportunities of NEP-2020” on Monday. Quoting Nelson Mandela, he said education is one of the most powerful tools to change the world.
He highlighted that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 lays down the responsibilities of the education sector to achieve the goal of Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047. Singh stated that teaching in a child’s mother tongue as the medium of instruction up to Class V would help students learn more effectively.
He expressed hope that the workshop would help achieve NEP 2020’s objectives. On its successful implementation, Singh said everyone is equally responsible, and the duty should not be left to the government alone. “NEP 2020 can be implemented successfully only when the government, employees and people work together with strong determination,” he added.
Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel said India aims to become a fully developed nation by the 100th year of Independence, guided by the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. He said NEP 2020 is a key driver in this journey, with teachers and education stakeholders playing a major role in shaping the nation’s future.
Professor Ganga Prasad Prasain, President of Vidya Bharati Purvottar Kshetra, said that from Class VI onwards, students should be introduced to skill development and vocational courses along with regular academic subjects to give them practical skills and improve their chances of self-employment.