Admission hangs in balance for Chakma students at Diyun Govt Secondary School

By Tejang Chakma


Prasanta Chakma (name changed) has passed class VIII from his village middle school at Bijoypur under Bordumsa circle under Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh. Now he is staying at relatives’ place at Diyun awaiting admission to Class IX at Government Secondary School at Diyun. On July 26, 2011, he approached the Government Secondary School for admission in class IX but denied admission.

Prasanta Chakma is not the only one who has been trying to get admission to class IX at the Government Secondary School, Diyun. There are many students from Chakma villages from other blocks (not under Diyun circle) such as Deban, Dharmapur, etc who are denied admission when the admission process got underway yesterday.

The admission process for class IX at Diyun Government Secondary School got underway on 26 July. The admission process was going on smoothly, but in the middle of it, the Headmaster of the school was called for a meeting at the office of the Extra Assistant Commissioner (EAC). What has transpired at the meeting, attended by officials and local leaders, is not known. But, the admission was reportedly stopped after the headmaster return to the school. Only about 60 students have been admitted. The rest of the students are asked to come on the following days, but the students feel they will not be admitted.

There are over 200 students, both from Diyun circle and outside, who are seeking admission at Diyun school in this academic session. The list also includes students who are not given admission during the previous academic sessions.

Diyun School is the only secondary level school in the Chakma majority areas. There are two other higher schools at Sompoi and Innao under the circle which are not easily accessible to the Chakma students. As on 26 July, admission has not started in these two schools. But it is expected that at least Chakma students outside Diyun circle will not be given admission in these two schools.

Chakma students from outside Diyun circle such as Bijoypur, Deban, M-Pen, Dharmapur, etc are not given admission in higher schools at their areas, forcing these students, who are mostly poor, to come to Diyun for admission. However, prior to the admission process begun it was reported that Chakma students from outside Diyun circle will not be given admission. The school decided to admit outside students during the admission process which started on 26 July only reportedly after direction from higher authorities in Changlang district.

No doubt, admitting large number of students at the school will affect the quality of education, but what is more important is the future of these students. With creation of additional rooms, the problem of overcrowding can be sorted out. There is no lack of fund. The Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India has already sanctioned grant for construction of school buildings for Diyun Secondary school recently. 

It will be highly unfortunate if these students are denied admission especially considering the fact that last month the Centre has decided to extend the provisions of the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act to secondary level.

Politics of any nature should not be allowed to play with the lives of these students. There should not be any discrimination in accessing education.