Manipur: Educational institutes reopen, students attend classes amid ongoing crisis

As schools and colleges reopened in Manipur after being closed for over 10 days due to violence following the killing of six hostages from Jiribam by suspected Kuki militants, many students attended classes on the first day.
 

The student community expressed the impact of the ongoing conflict on their studies and voiced concerns that the frequent school closures put them at a disadvantage compared to students from other states.
 

The Principal of Churachand Higher Secondary School, Khulem Memtonbi Devi, said that the school currently has 1,446 students in classes 9 to 12. She noted that the conflict has impacted their academic progress, as the number of working days has been reduced, further informing that extra classes are being conducted at the school to address the issue and cover the syllabus.
 

“The conflict between Kukis and Meiteis has affected students, but the faculty team is making every effort to support them in light of their future careers,” she stated, expressing the commitment of the teachers to secure the future of the students despite facing many challenges.
 

It may be mentioned that Directorate of Education issued an order stating that normal classes would resume in all government, government-aided, private, and central schools in the affected districts.
 

Similarly, the Higher and Technical Education Department announced that government-aided colleges and state universities would reopen beginning November 29.
 

The closure of educational institutions began on November 16, when violence erupted following discovery of lifeless bodies of six hostages from Jiribam by suspected Kuki militants. They were kidnapped on November 11 after Kuki militants launched an attack on the Borobekra police station in Jiribam, which housed a relief camp. The CRPF countered the attack, resulting in a gunfight that killed 11 Kuki militants. During the attack, two Meitei civilians were also killed by the Kuki militants.