IMPHAL: State Education Minister M Okendro on Monday described the proposed indefinite economic bandh to be imposed along all the National Highways connecting Manipur over Teacher’s Eligibility Test (TERT) issue as ‘unfortunate’ and appealed the tribal joint student committee to withdraw it.
Okendro was addressing at the inaugural function of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT). He dubbed the indefinite economic blockade called by Joint Committee of Hill Districts Student Organisation (JCHDSO) as unfortunate and appealed them to call off the strike beginning October 15.
Saying that people in some hill districts have resisted the economic blockade, the education minister who is in the line of JCHDSO fire over TET issue reiterated it would not be possible in the current year to open TET exam centres in the five hill district headquarters as demanded by JCHDSO.
He affirmed that the TET is conducted as part of a talent hunt exam which selects only the eligible candidates, saying the exam creates job opportunity. Okendro further acknowledged extension of TET exam schedule will have effect and pledged that all the districts in Manipur will be offered TET exam centres after systematizing the technical problem but cited it may take some years.
At the inaugural ceremony of the newly constructed SCERT hall, besides Okendro, N Debala Devi, Director, SCERT; G Joychandra, Chief Engineer, Education Cell and B Jayenta, former Assistant Director, All India Radio, Imphal also attended as presidium members. (NNN)