Manipur set to hand over fake appointment cases to CBI

IMPHAL, April 8: Education Minister N Nimai today stated that absence of financial discipline and rationalisation of transfers and posting of teachers are the greatest hurdles in revamping educational set up and ushering in quality education in the state. Speaking to representatives of teachers' organisations and associations from primary to the higher secondary level at his office chamber today, the minister noted with regret that absence of financial discipline in the Education department has greatly hampered the improvement and development of infrastructure in the school. Nimai said the fake appointment scandal unearthed in the Education Department has taken a heavy toll. Stating that the Government is intent on removing the ills afflicting the Education Department, Nimai said the Government has decided to rope in the CBI to probe the fake appointment scam and also the siphoning of huge funds from the department. The process to hand over the cases to the CBI is almost ready, he added. The minister also admitted that the department is handicapped by the misadministration and added that there are at least 800 cases, pertaining to service matters of teachers, pending in the court. Giving details of the lacunae within the department, the Minister said that many ad hoc employees are running the administrative affairs of Education Directorate. He added that many law graduates who were recruited as teachers are now posted at the Directorate as legal advisors, thus robbing the educational establishments of their services. The minister appealed to the teachers present to extend their co-operation and correct the wrongs so that the Education Department may be revamped. The teachers' representatives highlighted the various problems in the sphere of infrastructure and equipment, community involvement, management and administration and other problems being faced at elementary schools.