Over 8,000 Children of Myanmar, Bangladesh Refugees, Manipur IDPs Enrolled in Mizoram Schools: Edu Min
Over 8,000 children, descendants of refugees from Myanmar and Bangladesh, as well as internally displaced individuals from the troubled region of Manipur, are currently receiving an education in schools across Mizoram. Lalchhandama Ralte, the Minister of School Education in Mizoram, disclosed this information. Among the 8,119 students, 6,366 originate from Myanmar, 250 from Bangladesh, and 1,503 from Manipur.
Minister Ralte emphasized that these students are being provided with complimentary school uniforms, textbooks, and mid-day meals, similar to local students. He stressed the Mizoram government's steadfast commitment to furnishing these children, who belong to the Zo tribes, with education. He underlined the principle of treating Zo tribes from around the world as a unified entity, a sentiment that is mirrored in the education system. According to Ralte, the government's responsibilities extend beyond shelter, extending to providing education to those in need.
In a briefing to reporters on a Tuesday, Ralte mentioned that in 2022, 44 refugee children registered for their class 10 board examinations, and 31 of them participated. Impressively, 28 out of the 31 students who appeared for the exams achieved a pass percentage of 90.32.
The Minister also highlighted a positive trend in government school enrollments over the past four years, indicative of an enhancement in the educational quality of government-run institutions. The student enrollment count in the academic sessions displayed this progress: from 1,15,005 in 2019-20, it rose to 1,19,133 in 2020-21, and further surged to 1,28,927 in the 2021-22 academic year.
Efforts are actively being directed towards incorporating Mizo language instruction into the curriculum. Mizoram has become a haven for numerous refugees belonging to Kuki-Chin communities from Myanmar and Bangladesh. The influx of Myanmar nationals, particularly from Chin state, occurred after a military takeover in the neighboring country in February 2021. Similarly, asylum seekers from Bangladesh's Chittagong Hill Tracts sought refuge in the state following a military operation against an ethnic insurgent group the preceding year. Additionally, Kuki IDPs from Manipur found sanctuary in Mizoram following ethnic clashes with the Meiteis in May.