By Our Reporter
Shillong: In a mission to give ‘hope’ to the deprived children of the state, the State Education Mission Authority of Meghalaya (SEMAM) on Saturday enrolled over a hundred school drop outs and non-admitted children from all 8 blocks including the Shillong municipality.
The initiative came after it was realised that despite the overall improvement in the State literacy rate, there are however, 29,000 out of school children and a high ratio of school drop outs in the State. The aim of this programme is to bring the non-admitted and drop out children to a regular school or a special training centre.
The enrolment of these children was taken up on Saturday as part of the World Literacy Day celebration which was organised by the State Project Office of the State Education Mission Authority and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, East Khasi Hills at St Anthony’s College Auditorium here.
Correlating with the theme of the celebration, ‘Literacy for a meaningful today and a brighter tomorrow’, the SEMAM gave away educational packages to all the enrolled children of the Reach Shillong Ministry, Shishu Shiksha Ghar, Mylliem, Mawkynrew, Pynursla, Laitkroh, Mawsynram, Sohra, Mawphlang and Mawryngkneng.
Giving a clear view of the whole initiative, State project director SESAM, FR Kharkongor who is also the State Education Secretary said that around 31,000 children were enrolled in the State and more are on the process of being enrolled.
“The SEMAM has launched the child tracking survey to get an authentic picture of the number of in school and out school children in the State”, Kharkongor said while hoping to complete the project by the end of this month.
In its attempt to provide education to more children in the state, SEMAM have collaborated with few NGOs in the State like Reach Shillong Ministry besides others.
Meanwhile, East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Goyal stated that the out of school children are mostly girls and children from SC/ST community, working children, deprived children of urban areas, children from special needs and children in different circumstances.
Goyal also added that the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) has played an important role in streamlining education, to bridge gender disparity, hold innovative programs and interviews for the SC ST students and acquiring aids and appliances for children in special needs and infrastructure for school.
The East Khasi Hills DC also said that for enrolment and retention ratio to improve in the rural area, the participation and motivation of concerned committee members, parents, youth, local durbars etc is very important.
Speaking as the chief guest in the occasion, Education Minister Prof RC Laloo released the special training module designed by the Directorate of Education and Research training (DERT).
World Literacy Day was proclaimed by UNESCO on November 17, 1965 with an aim to highlight the International community of the status of literacy.
Others who were present at the function included the Principal Secretary of Education PS Thangkhiew, DMC of SSA East Khasi Hills P Lyngdoh besides teachers and students.
In another event, the Department of Social Work, Martin Luther Christian University in collaboration with Meghalaya Youth Foundation, Shillong observed World Literacy Day at Dienglieng village in Mawkynrew Block.
The program was flagged off by JD Sangma, MCS, Director, School Education and Literacy, Government of Meghalaya from the MLCU office.
At a public meeting in Dienglieng, the social work students performed role plays on Right to Education and the problem of school dropouts. Mr O Kharsohnoh, Coordinator, SSA-CRC, Jongsha stressed on the Right to Education. He reported that there are still many drop outs in rural areas and there are not enough schools in Mawkynrew Block.
The students also conducted a group discussion on the SSA scheme in the village and the difficulties which the villagers encountered.
