From Our Correspondent
NONGPOH: Joining hands with the rest of the world, the World Literacy Day with the theme ‘Literacy for the 21st Century’ was observed in Ri Bhoi District on Monday at a programme organized by the District Mission Coordinator, SSA-SEMAM, Nongpoh, at the Parish Hall here.
The programme began with a vibrant and colourful march by students of 15 schools of the district which was flagged off by Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner, Pooja Pandey.
Deputy Chief Minister In Charge Education, Prof RC Laloo, graced the occasion as the chief guest while MLA and Parliamentary Secretary Dr Celestine Lyngdoh was the guest of honour.
The programme was attended by heads of various schools, teachers and students including children with special needs.
The District Mission Co-ordinator, Ri Bhoi, V Lyngdoh informed that the enrolment of students in Ri Bhoi District at present is 64,875, while the re-enrolment for the year 2013 is 416 children. 52 are children with special needs.
Addressing the occasion, Prof Laloo congratulated and appreciated the school authorities and the managing committees for their excellent service and contribution through various schools and institutions dedicated to boost up the literacy rate at various villages and areas. He also lauded the untiring effort of District Mission Co-ordinator District Unit SSA-SEMAM in promoting and strengthening education in the district.
Prof Laloo also informed that the literacy rate of Ri Bhoi District is 77.2 per cent, and stressed on the need to achieve 100 per cent literacy for further development of the district and the State as a whole. He hoped that Ri Bhoi would be the first district in the State to achieve 100 per cent literacy rate.
He also appreciated and congratulated the performance put up by the school children through various songs and dances.
Meanwhile, the World Literacy Day was celebrated in a befitting manner at Turaon Monday with model enrolment of out of school children and various other programmes organized by the District Unit of SSA, West Garo Hills.
Parliamentary Secretary in charge of PHE and Urban Affairs, Noverfield R Marak attended the function as the chief guest.
As part of the celebration, various inter- Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya competitions were organised over the past week and prizes were distributed to the winners on the occasion by the chief guest and other dignitaries. KGBV Zikzak bagged the trophy for the best performance in the district during the competition.