Imphal, October 14 2012: Following a meeting between the Education Minister and representatives of the Joint Committee of Hill District Student Organisations today, the proposed economic blockade supposed to come into force from tomorrow has been postponed by three days.

In the meantime, the Education Minister has announced that the next TET exam would be held in all hill district headquarters too.

The meeting held this afternoon at New Secretariat was attended by Education Minister M Okendro, representatives of CDSU, NSUC, TKS, ZSUM and TSA, MLAs MK Preshow (Chingai AC), Alexander Pou (Karong AC), Kikonbou Newmai (Tamei AC) and DK Korungthang (Tengnoupal AC) .

The student representatives proposed postponement of the TET exam which is scheduled on November 11 but the meeting could not arrive at any understanding, informed sources.

However, postponement of the exam would render some candidates ineligible as their age would exceed the age bar.

As such, the Government maintained that the TET exam would be held on the date already fixed.

Speaking to media persons after the meeting, Education Minister M Okendro stated that TET exam centres would be opened in hill district headquarters too the next exam.

For this, necessary infrastructure would be installed.

Alexander Pou said that SDSA representatives could not attend today's meeting as they were engaged in their own conference.

He said that SDSA has no problem if TET exam centres would be opened in hill districts too from next year.

ZSUM president and convenor of the joint committee D Stephen, however, lamented that today's meeting was not a fruitful one.

It was at the request of the Education Minister to give three days' time to consider demand in a Cabinet meeting that the blockade has been put off by three days, he said.

In case the Government could not fulfil the demands within these three days, agitation would be launched as planned earlier.

On being asked about SDSA's willingness to abort the planned agitation if TET exam centres would be opened in hill districts from next year as conveyed by the Karong AC MLA, Stephen that they have not received any official statement from SDSA in this regard.

Source: The Sangai Express