Editor,
According to the news report in your paper (ST February 14, 2014) Rahul Gandhi will kick start the Congress nominee Daryl Momin’s compaign on 18th March in Resubelpara. Now18th March is the last day of the SSLC examination. The subject is Mathematics, the much feared subject for many a student. HSSLC candidates also will tackle the not so easy subjects, Biology and Economics that day. Will the rally not disturb the examinations? Will the candidates who write their examinations in the town not be disturbed and distracted by the noisy compaign with loud speakers blaring at their ears? Education has often suffered at the hands of election. Elections have been always given preference over examinations. Many times HSSLC and SSLC examinations have been rescheduled due to elections. Never mind the tension and pressure of students that arise from these reschedules.
This is a total lack of sensitivity for the examinees. It is surprising no student body has objected to this gross insensitivity. In the best interests of the students community the Rahul/Congress rally should be postponed. Wait till exams are over!
Yours etc.,
Albert Thyrniang
Via email
Quota is about merit without interest
Editor,
Funny that in Meghalaya those graduates who pursued BSc (Agri) from the State quota (merit minus interest) first availed quota seat to study and then expect to also get a job via the quota route. What about the rest of the non- quota students (merit plus interest)? Don’t they have the right to avail government jobs too? Thanks to the MPSC which has finally given non-quota students a break. Factually speaking those who have got their BSc (Agri) degrees through the open category are more eligible for government jobs as they studied the course because of their interest and not by the marks they obtained in one exam. Most times it is noticed that students opt for Agriculture when they fail to get into medicine or engineering or dentistry. So giving jobs to these quota claimants will be more destructive to the line departments like agriculture, veterinary and fishery which deal directly with the livelihoods of farmers. A quota candidate without interest in the job is there just to earn a salary and do desk work. He/she will not go the extra mile to help farmers in the field. Finally, a request to the Government to conduct an aptitude test besides the entrance exam for candidates wanting to pursue professional courses so that the best candidate is selected.
Yours etc.,
Nick Lyngdoh,
Via email
