Edn (S) office locked

IMPHAL, Oct 9 : Peeved by the inaction of the Directorate of Education (S), volunteers of the All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) have locked the Directorate's office at Lamphel today.
The office was locked demanding revocation of the order issued on October 5 regarding collection of fees from students of private schools in the State and payment of salary of teachers and staff.
The order which was issued by the Commissioner of the Directorate, allows private and aided schools to collect 30 pc fees from students, which the AMSU said as unacceptable and should be withdrawn within October 8. The order also stated that teachers and staff should be given not less than 50 pc of their salary.
With the department paying no heed to the demands, the decision to lock the office was taken, said an AMSU functionary while speaking to the media.
The staff of the department present inside the office were called out before the collapsible shutter of the office was locked by the volunteers.
The volunteers of the student body also posted placards and banners reading "Are private schools above the Government?", "The recent order should be discarded", "Do not commodify students" etc. in front of the office's gate.
The office will remain locked until the particular order is revoked and a solution is reached, the functionary said.