Editor,
The decision taken by the Human Resource Development Minister, Kapil Sibal to hold a combined entrance examination from 2013 for admission to the various centrally funded institutions in India will most certainly crush the hopes and dreams of those aspirants appearing from Meghalaya Board of Secondary Education (MBOSE). Under the new format of the combined test, the scores obtained by the students at the Class XII Board results are given considerable weightage. For the selection, 40% marks of Class XII results and 60% of the combined test results will be calculated. This process will greatly hamper the chances of the MBOSE science students as the system of evaluation adopted by the Board does not give scope for students to attain high scores. MBOSE now needs to urgently revise its evaluation pattern to keep its students at par with those of CBSE. Another factor that prevents the students of this Board to fare well in the examinations is the choice of textbooks recommended by the Board. Whereas NCERT textbooks are prescribed by CBSE for its Higher Secondary students, MBOSE recommends textbooks which are actually meant to be used as Reference books. This decision has proved detrimental to the students as NCERT textbooks gives students’ strong conceptual backgrounds of the subject while the textbook chosen by MBOSE suddenly chokes the students with enormous details rather than helping to build in them a strong base of the subject. Owing to the bad selection, the performance of the science students has never been spectacular and the worst affected are students who hail from rural Meghalaya. Text books play a crucial role in science education as they are the source that not only guide the learners about the content of the curricula but also generate enthusiasm about the subject. It is about time that MBOSE conducts a self- appraisal of its Science teaching methods and correct the flaws in its aim to impart quality education and to ensure bright career prospects for the students under its fold.
Yours etc.,
Aiom Phyrnai,
Via email
Rejoinder: on the issue of railway project
Editor,
Apropos the letter which by Dominic Wankhar (ST July 4, 2012) about the rail-head in Meghalaya I have a different viewpoint. Firstly, Dominic’s claims that the KSU doesn’t have the mandate of the people regarding railway project, democracy is a game of numbers and hence subjective. So if we want the peoples’ view s on this issue then let’s have a referendum. But that would be a distant dream because just as it happened five years ago at West Khasi Hills at the public hearing on the issue of uranium mining , the outcome will be a big ‘NO.’ So the Government will not hold a referendum because it knows what the outcome would be. Secondly, if we take a close look at the rallies organized by the KSU we would find tens of thousands of people in attendance whereas not one MLA candidate can muster this number. Thirdly, Dominic is an educated person and so am I but we constitute only a fraction of our population. The majority of our people reside in rural areas and are uneducated. They are vulnerable to exploitation socially & economically. Lastly I, myself acknowledge that this project is vital for our development and like Dominic , I do not subscribe to the view that the KSU should blindly oppose the project as we cannot deny the positive impact it will bring to the state especially economically through better connectivity. But we should also dwell on the negative consequences that accompany such projects. Hence before going ahead with the project we should first have a mechanism which is practical to address the issue of influx and infiltration. Many feel that with or without railways, influx will be there but that the railways will enhance the influx, hence the need for a checking mechanism. Some might think that being anti-railway is also being anti-development, but, in the name of development no one has the right to compromise the social , environmental and demographic issues just as we have polluted our rivers in the name of development. We want development but we must strive for Sustainable Development.
Yours etc.
Ronald Thabah
Shillong-2
Raising pollution and no lights!
Editor,
If the government were to suggest the list of departments for dis-investment then the State Pollution Control Board and the Meghalaya Electricity Corporation Ltd would be the best to be jettisoned. The reason? We have a toothless department that cannot bring any effective mechanism to deal with pollution, environmental degradation and which lack technical expertise to even check radiation or contamination of water. There is nothing worthwhile that the department has achieved except to be used as a gate pass by unproductive companies. Secondly, the state electricity corporation that should act and function like a corporate seems saddled in its typical government mentality where power distribution is pathetic in most rural areas. The MeECL is quick to send huge bills to consumers for utilizing its so called ‘services’. So much of coal goes out but the State is yet to come up with a thermal power plant to generate electricity. These are just a few examples of failed departments that do not have any accountability or responsibility towards the needs of the common citizens.
Yours etc
Dominic S. Wankhar.
Shillong -3