Imphal: Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh attended the Awards Ceremony of the “Incentive to Government School Students Who Excel in Higher Secondary Examination” at the Palace Auditorium, MSFDS, Imphal, today.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister congratulated all the awardees for their outstanding achievements and lauded the dedication of teachers and parents in their endeavour to nurturing the students. He stated that the award scheme, launched in 2018, has been encouraging healthy competition among Government school students while supporting meritorious students to pursue higher education.
Highlighting the Government’s efforts to strengthen Government schools, the Chief Minister recalled the launch of the” School Fagathansi Mission” in 2019, under which schools with very low enrolment were merged with nearby Government schools as part of the “One School Development per Constituency” initiative. Citing the example of Chingamakha High School in his Singjamei Assembly Constituency, he said that when he was first elected, the school had only 14 students, whereas today its enrolment has crossed 250. He further noted that around 15 students from the school appeared in the HSLC Examination this year, with eight securing first division.
The Chief Minister remarked that despite the unprecedented challenges faced by the State, students and teachers have remained committed to education and continued striving for excellence instead of allowing the situation to hinder their progress.
Highlighting the significant role played by women in Manipuri society, he said that Manipuri women have always been known for their courage, resilience and contributions, as reflected through places such as Ima Keithel and iconic leaders like Rani Gaidinliu. Referring to Olympic medallist Saikhom Mirabai Chanu and her recent achievement of winning the gold medal at the ongoing Commonwealth Games, he said her remarkable accomplishment continues to inspire the younger generation. He further expressed pride that T.G. Higher Secondary School secured 11 State position holders out of its 17 awardees, describing the achievement as a shining example of the talent, determination and leadership of Manipuri girls, and a testament to the strength of women empowerment in the State.
Stressing that education remains the backbone of human society, the Chief Minister assured that the Government is always open to listening to the concerns and grievances of students, teachers and all stakeholders through meaningful dialogue. He appealed to all sections of society to refrain from resorting to bandhs, blockades and other forms of disruption, stating that such activities adversely affect students and create hardships for society as a whole.
Commissioner (Education/S), Ningthoujam Geoffrey, while congratulating the awardees, described the occasion as a proud moment for the State’s education sector. He observed that despite facing nearly 48 per cent vacancy in teaching posts, inadequate infrastructure and limited laboratory facilities in many Government schools, students have continued to perform exceptionally well in the Higher Secondary Examination.
Encouraging the students to remain confident and inquisitive, he advised them never to hesitate to ask questions and urged them to actively participate in extracurricular activities such as sports, music, dance and arts alongside academics. He also stressed the importance of maintaining discipline through a balanced daily routine for study, rest and recreation.
During the programme, the Chief Minister presented awards to the meritorious students under the “Incentive to Government School Students Who Excel in Higher Secondary Examination” scheme.
The programme was also conducted simultaneously in five districts—Ukhrul, Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Jiribam and Tengnoupal—through virtual mode. Deputy Commissioners of the respective districts attended the programme, where students from those districts also received their awards under the scheme.
Among the schools, T.G. Higher Secondary School secured the highest number of awards with 17 awardees, including 11 State position holders, followed by C.C. Higher Secondary School with eight awards and Kakching Higher Secondary School with five awards. Overall, 24 awards went to schools from the hill districts and 41 awards to schools from the valley districts.
This year’s awards recognised 65 students, comprising 14 State awardees and 51 District awardees. Under the scheme, the first, second and third State position holders receive financial assistance of ₹5 lakh, ₹4 lakh and ₹3 lakh, respectively, while students securing fourth position onwards receive ₹1 lakh each. District-level first and second position holders receive ₹50,000 and ₹25,000, respectively.
The programme was attended by Chairman, Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur, T. Ojit Singh, senior officials of the Education Department, principals, teachers, students, family among others.
