Manipur govt urges HRD Min on Hill school affiliation

Shillong, July 10 (UNI) Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh has urged the Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry to reject the request of the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland government to allow schools in the hilly districts of the state to get affiliated to Nagaland Board of Schools Education (NBSE).

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said his government had recently requested the ministry to allow schools in Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur to get affiliated to the NBSE.

''We have written to the HRD ministry urging them to consider our request for the benefits of the Naga people in that state,'' Mr Rio, told UNI today.

Various Naga organisations in Manipur have been demanding introduction of NBSE syllabus in private schools of four Naga-inhabited hilly districts of Senapati, Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Chandel and were seeking permission from the Nagaland government for affiliation.

However, Mr Singh termed the request made by his Nagaland counter-part to the HRD ministry as 'absolutely impossible.' ''The HRD Ministry should not consider the Nagaland government's request. I am sure that the ministry realises that education is a state subject and will not interfere in it,'' Mr Singh said here in the backdrop of the 11th Five-year Plan Regional Consultative meeting.

''I hope the Centre understands there should be no repetition of June 2001 situation while dealing with this sensitive issue,'' the chief minister added.

Mr Singh also claimed that the demand for introducing of NBSE syllabus in the four Naga-inhabited hill districts was planned by the NSCN (I-M).

He said 10 to 15 schools have gone ahead affiliating their schools with the NBSE, Mr. Saingh said these schools have done it so fearing the barrel of the gun.

''I can tell you that most of the Naga people in Manipur do not want their schools to be affiliated with the NBSE,'' Mr Singh added.

Mr Singh, however, said his government had taken new initiatives to improve the schools in all the hills of Manipur by providing more educational infrastructure, recruitment of teachers and other capacity building measures.

UNI RRK JYN AK KN1541