DESAM protests BOSEM's inefficiencies

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jul 31: Condemning the malpractice often present during declaration of the results of examinations conducted by the Board Of Secondary Education Manipur (BOSEM), DESAM organised a mass protest at various schools all over the State today .
Protests were carried out at Heritage Convent School Uripok, Pari-Imom Sindam Shang Langjing, Regular English High School Kwakeithel, Vale Academy Konjeng Leikai, SCM Boarding School Singjamei, Halley English School Soibam Leikai and St Peter's English School Kwakeithel during which the students brandished placards containing slogans like 'BOSEM do not rob the rights of the student', 'BOSEM authorities should resign on moral ground', 'We condemn mark tampering', 'Make the Enquiry Committee report public', 'Do not convert BOSEM into a money making machine', 'Do not toy with students' career',  etc.
Speaking to media persons, DESAM secretary general Sheetal Oinam said that after many inconsistencies and errors cropped up in the results declared by BOSEM last year, an Enquiry Committee made up of three members (led by an IAS officer), was constituted to investigate the incident.
However, even though the report of the committee was submitted a long time ago, it is not made public even today, he alleged, stating that DESAM has been continuously demanding the Government to make the report public.
However, even till date, the Government is resorting to delaying tactics and giving excuse after excuse which is condemnable, he added. Sheetal continued that this year, the same thing happened again and numerous inconsistencies appeared in the results declared by BOSEM.
Claiming that DESAM has proof that many teachers who are not qualified are involved in checking the answer papers of the student, he pointed out the irresponsibilities of the Head Examiner which led to errors in mark tabulation.
He then stated that DESAM decided to launch the protest as BOSEM is now becoming a body which is run by corrupt officials and a body on which the people have started to lose faith. Before the movement and protest intensifies, it will be the right step for the Government to make the report of the enquiry committee public, he demanded.
On the other hand, Sheetal conveyed that in a meeting of the Education Minister, BOSEM officials and DESAM, the authorities had assured to allow proper RTI facility for any enquiry regarding the answer papers and added that despite the assurance, DESAM has received complaints from guardians claiming that BOSEM collected Rs 10 for each RTI filed but simply refused to provide the answer scripts.
Demanding all the irresponsible officials of BOSEM to resign on moral ground, Sheetal also demanded the Government to take up necessary actions against the teachers who are responsible for the errors as well and to punish them accordingly.