DEVELOPMENT OF ELEMENTARY EDUCATION IN MANIPUR

            The ancient educational system of Manipur embodied the method of oral teaching and memorising the text by heart. The teaching and learning was effected through oral transmission of knowledge from generation to generation, before it was transcribed in the manuscripts.

            Historically, until 1872, there was no primary school for formal education in Manipur. Efforts of Captain Gordon and Major General W.F. Nuthal, the political agents to open vernacular schools failed due to negative attitude of the people towards formal education which was exogenous to their cultural system and social structure. As a result, growth of primary education was very slow. In course of time, Maharaj Chandra Kirti gave his consent to Sir James Johnstone for establishing an English School in 1885 at Imphal. Later on the school was known as Johnstone Middle English School. During 1893-95, four Lower Primary Schools, three in Imphal and one in the hill area (at Mao) were opened. The enrolment at that time was confined to boys only as the parents were unwilling to send their daughters to these schools. Inspite of such prejudice against female education, a separate Girls’ Primary school was established in 1899 at Imphal. Only 12 girls came forward to join the school.

            In order to cope with the expansion in all stages, the Department of Education was established in 1910. It is on record that the first batch of students appeared in Matric examination at Sylhet in 1909 as there were no high schools in Manipur in those days. In 1921 Johnstone M.E. School was upgraded to High School level and it was affiliated to Calcutta University. During 1931-41 many more High Schools came up as there was increasing demand of schools. In 1914, for the first time, Manipur produced a Doctor and in the subsequent years more and more students became  Engineers, Doctors and other Graduates.

            During 1939 - 1943, education in Manipur was greatly effected because of the outbreak of the World War II. It was only after 1944 that few schools started functioning in Manipur. In 1946, a college was established at Imphal in the name of Maharani Dhanamanjuri who donated a large sum of money i.e Rupees ten thousand for the cause of higher education. 

             After the World War-II there has been a sharp increase both in the number of schools and enrollment in Manipur. In the year 2005-06 the enrolment in class (I-V) was 3,62,999 in 2521 primary schools and that of class VI - VIII became 1,17,370 in 807 upper primary schools.