SHILLONG: The Opposition on Tuesday demanded the formulation of a comprehensive education policy for the State.
“Unfortunately, the State has failed to come up with a comprehensive policy till date. Paradox perhaps is the other name of education,” UDP legislator Jemino Mawthoh said while moving a motion during the Autumn Session of the Assembly here.
Stating that the system of school education in the State is very peculiar, he said that there are so many categories of schools like ad hoc, deficit pattern, SSA schools and so on, which has added to the confusion.
While referring to the proposed Education Policy, he said that even in the draft, it has been clearly stated that the existing multi-layered system of grants-in-aid is highly undesirable and should be “progressively abolished.”
“The ultimate goal in this area is to bring about a uniform system for grants-in-aid. The State has to assume major responsibility of bringing about the necessary changes and educational reforms. Government has to take responsibility of becoming the guardian of these changes,” Mawthoh said.
While dwelling on the welfare of teachers, he said that the National Policy on Education, 1986 has laid strong emphasis on the role of teachers.
“With increasing availability of information and knowledge, the role of teachers has also expanded placing a considerable burden, which constantly needs upgrading and drastic overhauling. They should move from mere transmitters of knowledge and information to transformers of knowledge and information,” Mawthoh said while expressing disappointment over the status of teachers in the State.
“If education is taken to be a priority in the State, then teachers should be given due recognition and weightage,” Mawthoh said.
Participating in the motion, HSPDP legislator Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit said that the teaching community has been neglected by the Government all these years.
“It is really sad that teachers have been forced to go to the streets to fight for their rights,” Basaiawmoit said.
He also called upon the need to have proper service rules and regulations for the school teachers.