First stepping stones to the future : Ambience for education
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: February 07 2018 -

In a few days from now thousands of students will be appearing for their Class X and Class XII board examinations and it is only right that questions are raised on whether the right ambience has been created for the young students to pursue their academic studies without hindrances.

Fortunately 2017 was comparatively bandh and blockade free and to a certain extent the BJP led Government may take credit for this, but still the question remains whether the right ambience was created for the young students to concentrate on their studies freely.

Apart from students appearing for the HSLC and HSSLC exams, a number of students will also be appearing for the Class X and Class XII board examinations conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education.

There is only one school in Manipur which is affiliated to the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) conducted by the Council of India School Certificate Examination but this is besides the point and a good number of students will be appearing for the ICSE and ISC examinations too.

All indications of the primacy being placed on education and why not ?

This is where it becomes important for all to come to the point that moulding the young students is not only the responsibility of the respective schools and parents, but also of society.

And this is where one needs to question whether the right ambience has been created for the students to study. How many school days were lost on account of one disturbance or the other ?

Why should students be expected or made to take part in issues which should strictly be dealt by the adults of society ?

Academics may not be the only parameter of success in life, but education certainly is.

This is a point which should not get lost in the cacophony of issues being drummed up by different power players of the State who do not hesitate to play around with the education of the young students.

It is due to the prevailing social reality that thousands of students leave Manipur to pursue their higher studies and this year too expect thousands of such students to move outside the State for higher studies, especially after they finish their Class XII examinations.

It is also important to note that every year, the Class X and Class XII examinations co-incide with the biggest festival in the State, the five days of revelry during Holi or Yaoshang, accompanied by Thabal Chongba in the evening.

Young people letting their hair down is fine and acceptable, but when this interferes with the two most important exams in the lives of the young students, then some thoughts ought to be given for the young students appearing for the Class X and Class XII board examinations.

At the same time it is also important for the young students to acknowledge the fact that the Class X and Class XII examinations are but just the first few steps towards life and to face the world, what one needs is education which is something much more than academics, though the two are closely associated.