Editor,
I fully sympathise with Arian Tyangchi and the plight she is facing in Tura. We, the residents of Shillong city are also facing similar problems, more so when it comes to the deplorable condition of the roads, poor water supply, non-existent waste disposal management, unabated traffic congestion etc. despite all the promises made by our local MLAs. One need only travel through the NH 40 to experience the ‘turbulent’ highway and the Goraline Road in the busy Laitumkhrah area to experience the ‘paddy-field’ city roads. Where the prescribed PHE water supply does reach, which is very rare by the way, the quality of the water is questionable. Street lamps especially in the interior areas are non-existent.
I stayed in Tura for over a week last month and I still feel that Tura is much better compared to that of the Shillong resident who is supposed to be living in the capital of Meghalaya. I wonder whether these letters actually do make a difference in the end in waking up our slumbering Government.
Yours etc.,
H Marwein,
Shillong -3
Stop politicizing education
Editor,
This letter refers to the string of letters written to your esteemed daily regarding the state of affairs in the field of education in our State. It is indeed a very amusing line up of anecdotes. The anonymous teacher who started the thread (ST, Oct 3, 2011) indeed raised a good point. Mr. Marboh (ST, Oct 10, 2011) raised an even better one. Now, as a student, allow me to put forward my views. The truth is there and no one wants to see it. Meghalaya has an amazing potential for education. The problem is that everyone is now treating this most beautiful art as a system and a sector under the rule of politics. Even within the teaching community and the legions of colleges that are mushrooming around the country, politics runs rampant and dictates everything that has to do with education.
The anonymous writer correctly noted that the brightest minds of the State are always moving outside for higher studies. And believe me when I say, given the job prospects that are available outside, few ever want to return. Basically, the question is why return to a place that chases away Foreign Direct Investment in any form? Why come back to a place where there is no scope of getting a job after toiling to get a degree? Mr. Marboh himself said that “the government institutions have been overstaffed”. And Mr. Marboh’s absurd claim that “teeming number of students” from outside come to Meghalaya for studies is ludicrous. To be clear, Meghalaya is among the best when it comes to primary and secondary education but it is seriously behind in higher studies. NEHU is not offering any course on B.Tech in Computers or Civil or Mechanical engineering courses, besides the myriads of new branches that are coming up. There is no engineering college that can even compete with colleges from outside. Other than NEIGRIHMS, there is no medical college of note. After over 30 years of statehood, what have we got? That is why we students are sent outside by our own Government to study and complete our higher studies. Because successive governments and education ministers in particular take longer than 30 years to build up the required infrastructure to become a real hub of education.
And yes, all this is due to the politicization of education. I am not going to feign wisdom to speak on what concerns the MCTA and this entire imbroglio. But Mr. Marboh’s suggestion that we have a student interest group that does not include any political people is in fact a good idea. I’m tired of seeing and hearing about student unions that do more political canvassing than talk about students. And in all my years as a student, I can say that no one from the said student union has ever approached me to ask about the problems I am facing as a student. Perhaps it is time we have a Student’s Union that actually concerns the students.
As regards the certification by NAAC, I think it is better to let the students grade the colleges and teachers. Considering that we spend the most time trying to learn under them, who else is more qualified to make the certification? I believe that we could better grade teachers and in effect the quality of services that colleges provide. I believe the problem does not lie with any Government policy or with any specific Government body or otherwise. The problem lies with the people themselves. As usual, we have all grown a bit lazy and submissive in our security, always ready and willing to lie down and be dictated. I think it is time we all wake up. Life is a whole lot more than politics. So stop politicking in the arena of education.
Yours etc.,
Gabriel B Nongsiej University of Pune