Editor,
The MLCU issue has grabbed newspaper headlines in the last few weeks. It has also triggered a lot of pre-meditated and spontaneous actions and reactions from numerous parties. These parties are either ill-informed or are using the situation as a mileage for their future aspirations. Most others have their own grudges. But, one could not help noticing that this is a game played by a few Elite Pastors who are privileged to be urban and in high places. The victims of this game are not the students of the MLCU but the ordinary Presbyterian masses, urban and rural who have no voice or platform to air their opinions. The Presbyterian masses have so long been subjected to the dictatorial attitude of the Pastors both at the Synod and Assembly level, where decisions taken by a handful of them are duly implemented. As it is, the seven Pastors whose issue shifts from UGC recognition to communal disparity and what not, have now become the ‘Face’ of the Khasi Jaintia Presbyterian Church, which is a disgrace to the other Pastors and the Presbyterians at large.
It is a shame that pastors toiling in rural areas and having no objective but to spread the Word of God be clubbed together in this category. The Presbyterian Church should check the background and motive of every aspiring pastor before ordination or the future of the Church is at stake. As a parent I despair to leave the future generation into their hands. The masses are now exasperated by the abuse of the sanctity of the pulpit by some pastors who talk more about politics, corruption, environment degradation and social issues than matters of the soul. Gone are the days when the Pastor’s Word is the Truth of God and from God. We need spiritual food and growth, so they should feed us with it…….that is, if they have any!
An invitation to the meeting of the Presbyterian Church members has been printed in a vernacular daily which has surprisingly become the only platform of the different concerned parties. Do the parties have a clear picture of the situation from both the sponsoring bodies? What is their motive? Do they see themselves fit or efficient enough to understand the intricacy and politics of this matter? Or have they just taken the word of the Pastors? I request these respected members of the Church not to be led by their emotions and do it for the love of the work of God. Remember the work of God is not only yours! It belongs to the masses of the Presbyterian Church and you are accountable to them for whatever happens to the MLCU. The Seng Kynthei KJPA should also weigh the Pastors’ words and reflect on the repercussions that their hasty and emotional reactions might bring about. Remember that a foolish woman plucketh her own house with her hands. The MLCU issue needs unbiased specialists and professionals to unravel the ugly truth, not pastors, medical doctors, Theological College Principals and Church elders. They have their own duties to attend to! A stealthy investigation of a Pastor and a Theological College Principal about the bank account of the MLCU will not help. Mere RTIs and distribution of pamphlets by pastors are acts of cowardice. Will the pastors in the KJPA swallow their pride for once and allow specialised hands to step in? We need qualified people to probe the MLCU affairs by listening to both sponsors, reveal the truth and solve this problem once and for all. The Presbyterian masses deserve this!
Yours etc
J. Kharshandi
Shillong- 2
Where education is a farce
Editor,
My niece is studying in Class X at St. Rose School, Umpling. She has been denied permission to appear in the Board exams next year without having been able to sit for the selection exams held by the board for private candidates each year. This was shocking news to us parents. We are disappointed by the reckless behavior of the school authorities.
This practice has been going on for the past 4-5 years. The school admits more than 40 students to Class X but only 8-10 students are allowed to appear for the SSLC exams. On enquiring about the policy to allow less than half of the students in the class to sit for their Board exams we were told that this procedure is adopted to ensure that the school gets 100% pass percentage, thereby speeding up its recognition.
If the school adopts such a procedure they should not admit more than 10 students into the class. Also they should not take in new admissions during the school year. It is learnt that the school admits students to class X even halfway through the year. Again if the school does not wish to send all the students of the present class for the Board exams they should refund the entire fees for the whole year. Now if only 8-10 students out of 40 are fit to sit for the Board exams does it not reflect on the quality of teaching? One is informed that in a single year teachers are changed 3-4 times, so much so that the students have a problem understanding the subject. Also, most of the time the teachers are not taking classes but are in the staff room gossiping. If a student has to learn the subject by him/herself since the teacher cannot teach him/her as he/she is busy in the staff room, then why do we need to send our wards to school?
We urge the Deputy Inspector of Schools to look into the matter and take corrective measures so that such practices are exposed. Also the highhandedness of the headmistress needs to be probed.
Yours etc.,
F. Lyngdoh
Shillong -6