Mizoram education minister Lalchhandama Ralte expressed concern over the declining number of educated Mizo youths in clearing the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examinations.
Addressing the 18th general conference of the Mizo Students’ Union (MSU) at Bairabi town near the Mizoram-Assam border on Wednesday night, Ralte said, “Efforts should be made to have as many as Mizo youths who clear the central services exams.”
He expressed apprehension that the Mizo people would be dominated by outsiders, unless, more and more Mizo youths do not clear UPSC exams and get employed under central services.
“The Mizo youths should be awakened about the importance and value of education and they should take the challenge that they are capable of doing what other people can do,” he added.
He pointed out that the state government is mulling to create Mizoram Education Service to reform education system in the state.
Ralte reiterated, “Mass inspection of schools will be conducted across the state to assess the status and the knowledge garnered by the students, including pitching for necessity of subjects on culture and traditions of the Mizos in curriculum.”
Starting from October 8, the general conference of the MSU, the second largest students’ body in the state, is being held at Bairabi.
The organization’s general secretary Samuel Zoramthanpuia said, “The students’ body in its business session held on Wednesday unanimously resolved to take measures to ensure that the state has its own battalion, purely Mizos, to guard the border and also install better border check posts in such border areas.”
The students’ body also resolved to take steps so that separate budget is allocated for Mizo Youth Commission (MYC).
It also agreed to take measures to ensure that substitute or proxy teachers are punished and more exam centres are opened for various competitive exams related to central services, banks and corporation, according to the general secretary of MSU.