"School education should address critical issues like suicide," said CB Sharma, Chairman, National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), while addressing the on one-day discussion session on Draft National Education Policy, 2019 in Imphal.

"Young children, especially young students, are more vulnerable and hence the issue needs to be emphasised more," he added.

Statistics show that in India, a student commits suicide every hour.

Pressure from parents, teachers, and peer groups have been identified as the three most important factors leading to the rise in suicide cases in the country.

Sharing his views on the draft education policy, Sharma said, "More diverse views are required towards it so that it may be directed towards positivity."

Sharma is of the view that the draft educational policy must be prepared in such a way that the sprawling coaching centres become obsolete.

"The increasing number of coaching centres need to be curbed and professors' migration from one institute to another in exchange of more money also needs to be stopped," Sharma said.

Manipur education minister Th. Radheshyam was also present in the meeting.

In his address to the gathering, Radheshyam said that education is meant to transform India into a stronger nation.

He further said that the draft education policy has been redefined to bring a better education system in the country.

He urged the students to emphasis more on gaining knowledge rather than study only with the sole motive of getting a job.

"Children should focus on studies not just to find a decent job, but also to gain as much knowledge as possible," Radheshyam said.

"The teachers should also focus on bringing out the best from the students, without giving much pressure to the students," further said the education minister.

He urged all to share ideas for strengthening the education policy.

Jointly organised by the Directorate of University and Higher Education, Manipur and Intellectual Forum of North East at Classic Hotel, the session was attended by a host of luminaries including Manipur's Director of University and Higher Education W Malemnganba Chenglei and Commissioner of Higher & Technology Education Sumant Singh among others.