Manipur’s Divide
The ethnic tensions in Manipur between the Kuki-Zo tribes and the Meitei community have brought the state's governance under intense scrutiny.
12-year-old boy, Issac Paulallungmuan Vaiphei, of Kangvai village in Churachandpur district is all set to become the youngest person in Manipur to appear in Class 10 board exams. The Board of Secondary Education (BOSEM) has approved to allow him to appear for Assam High School Leaving Certificate in Class 10 board exams. The administrative board of BOSEM gave the approval to Isaac to register his name with his actual date of birth for the upcoming board exams, terming it a ”special case”.
Isaac, who studied in Mount Olive School till Class 8, is the eldest son of his parents. “I am happy and excited. I admire Sir Isaac Newton because I think I am like him and we share a common name,” the kid said.
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Isaac’s father, Genkholien Vaiphei had submitted an application last year seeking permission from the education department to allow his son to write in the Class 10 exams. Following Genkholien’s application, the commissioner of the education department ordered to conduct a psychology test on the boy.
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As per the test results conducted by the Department of Clinical Psychology RIMS Imphal, Isaac’s mental age was 17 years 5 months. His intelligence quotient (IQ) is 141 which is of very superior intellectual and development functioning.
Genkholien said that initially they were asked to change the age of the boy to 15 so that he could appear in the exams. Following this, he approached the higher authority driven by the passion of his son.
“We are very happy and thankful to the department for giving my son this opportunity. The initiative of the department for this will pave ways for the coming generations to put to test their skills and talents”, the proud father said. As per the rules, a student shall complete 15 years of age on April 1 of the year in which a candidate intends to appear for the class 10 board exams.
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